In a notable development, India and Bangladesh decided to enhance cooperation in building infrastructure and operational efficiency at the various land ports and check-posts located along the 4,096 km long shared international border.
The decision has been made during the sixth subgroup meeting of the Land Port Authority of India with the Bangladesh Land Port Authority. The bilateral meeting aims to strengthen ties and discuss issues related to cross-border infrastructure, connectivity and facilitation of trade between the two nations.
The discussion included developing port facilities at Gede (Darshna in West Bengal) and Bholaganj (Meghalaya), expediting clearance of Bangladesh’s export cargo at Petrapole (West Bengal) and Agartala, prioritising the development of land ports and integrated check-posts, and considering a common cargo gate at Bhomra (Ghojadanga in West Bengal). It also covers facilitating the movement of Bangladeshi trucks carrying exports to Nepal and Bhutan through Burimari and Banglabandha ports in that country, operationalising the land port at Sabroom (Tripura), developing the Tegamukh (Bangladesh)-Kawrpuichhuah (Mizoram) Port, and establishing certain ports operational 24×7.