India to open a new mission in Bangladesh’s Khulna

India has decided to open an Assistant High Commission in Khulna recognising the “importance” of the south-western district in India-Bangladesh relations, the high commissioner has said.

“We hope to have this set up at the earliest possible once the formalities are completed,” Harsh Vardhan Shringla said while addressing business leaders at a function of the Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday.

India has currently two assistant high commissions in Bangladesh – Chittagong and Rajshahi – apart from the High Commission in Dhaka.

Shringla said India’s links with Khulna are “significant”.

“Not only is it the city in Bangladesh located closest to Kolkata, it has had a long history of close cultural and business ties with the western part of the then Bengal.”

Khulna was liberated by the freedom fighters and the Indian Armed Forces on Dec 17, 1971, a day after the rest of the country.

High Commissioner Shringla said the architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr BR Ambedkar, had a “special connection” with Khulna as he represented the constituency which included Khulna, Jessore, Barisal and Faridpur in the Constituent Assembly in 1946 before partition.

The former chief minister of West Bengal Prafulla Chandra Sen was born in the Khulna district, the envoy said while highlighting the historic links of Khulna with India.

He said they had also offered to partner Bangladesh in modernising the infrastructure at Mongla Port, and to construct the Khan Jahan Ali Airport, named after the revered 15th century Sufi saint from this region.

As part of increasing connectivity, he said, the trial run of the Kolkata-Khulna bus service was completed “successfully” in August last year. Kolkata-Khulna passenger train is also expected to be launched soon.

“We have identified Mongla as one of the potential locations for establishing a Special Economic Zone for Indian companies. The feasibility study on Mongla SEZ is going on, and will be completed soon,” the high commissioner said.

He said Khulna, already an important hub for jute, seafood processing and shipbuilding, holds “great potential” for attracting investments.

“Its access to Mongla Port and proximity to a big Indian market increase its attractiveness as a destination for investment.”

A number of Indian companies have also set up their plants in the Khulna Division – VIP Industries has a manufacturing unit in the Mongla EPZ; Tata Motors has an assembly plant in Jessore; Hero MotoCorp is investing around $30 million to set up a motorcycle manufacturing plant in Jessore.

The envoy said Khulna can also serve as a hub for promoting tourism to the Sundarbans and to other historical sites in the vicinity, particularly the Mosque City of Bagerhat – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“We hope to sign an agreement that provides for greater exchanges in the tourism sector, including the visit of cruise ships,” Shringla said.

“The ongoing infrastructure projects in the Khulna region will also open up new opportunities for investment. We are also supporting the development of infrastructure in the Khulna region.”

India is also financing the Khulna-Mongla railway line project under a Line of Credit.