Guwahati-Shillong-Dhaka bus trials next month

The trial run of the Guwahati-Shillong-Dhaka bus service will start next month, says Bangladesh High Commissioner in India Tariq A Karim.

That should generate greater interest in Bangladesh about India's Northeast, he says.

Young Bangladeshis head to far-off Kenya for a rhino safari when it is available across the border in Assam's Kaziranga, home to more than 2,000 one-horned Indian rhinos, says Dipankar Barua , chairman of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries' (FICCI) tourism committee in Northeast. "This is because they know so little about India's Northeast, despite all the proximity.".

Bangladesh envoy Karim did not disagree, but said with better road, air and water connectivity that should change.

Karim was a special guest at a meeting organised by FICCI in Guwahati on Wednesday.

He said both governments agree on the need for better connectivity between India's Northeast with Bangladesh but a few bottle necks needs to be cleared up.

"In the longer term we need to work out a mechanism where businessmen, professionals and goods from both sides can move freely," he said.

Bangladesh envoy Ahmad Tariq Karim speaks at a FICCI organised discussion at Assam's Guwahati. photo: bdnews24.com

FICCI tourism committee's Chairman Dipanker Baruah, while highlighting the problems faced in promoting tourism in Bangladesh informed the High Commissioner that despite of their best efforts, they have not been able to generate better response in Assam or the other Northeastern States about the neighbouring country.

Citing examples, he said, Bangladesh's young generation rather travel all the way to Kenya for a rhino safari while the same is easily available in Assam's famed Kaziranga national park.

At the same time people from Bangladesh prefer to travel to Kolkata for tourism, health services or any other important work, even though Guwahati in Assam has equally good hospitals.

The High Commissioner hoped that with improvement in air, water and road connectivity with the India Northeastern states, Bangladesh's tourism traffic will redirect to the region.

He advocated joint effort from both sides to improve connectivity.

Karim mentioned that hospitals from Guwahati and other northern states should open their information centres in Bangladesh. This will help provide valuable inputs to the people.

He also recommended visits by 5-6 member doctors' team from good hospitals here to facilitate better networks in health sectors between two countries.

Trading resumes at Akhaura land port

Karim also mentioned that trial run of the proposed new bus service will start between Guwahati-Shillong-Dhaka next month, providing a big step forward in connectivity between the two countries.

Referring to the Bangladesh Biman Airlines, he said that his government is discussing plans with India to improve Guwahati to Dhaka air connectivity.

It may be noted that Bangladesh national carrier, Bangladesh Biman Airlines was to start regular international flight operations between Dhaka and Guwahati from July 1 this year but the progress has slowed down.

The Hasina-led government has already sought New Delhi’s permission to open its Deputy High Commission in Guwahati and upgrade the Agartala Visa Office to an Assistant High Commission to boost diplomatic and commercial presence in the northeast, he added.

On the other hand, members of the FICCI North East advisory council highlighted the need for working together to ensure better physical and economic connectivity with the neighbouring country.

On illegal migration, Karim said ratification of India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement would help solve the problem of illegal migration and boost bilateral ties between the two countries.

According to him, ratification of the agreement would see better demarcation and it will help arrive at a system that will allow people to cross over the border legally and thereby end the problem of illegal migration.

"Illegal migration is a fact of life worldwide. Even the best-defined boundary between the US and Mexico can not control migration," he added.

In September 2011, the protocol to implement the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement was signed during Dhaka visit of then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh but the said bill is still pending in India's upper house, Rajya Sabha.

Karim called on chief minister Tarun Gogoi at his official residence on Wednesday and discussed wide-ranging issues, including improving connectivity between Assam and Bangladesh.