Fulbari: Mosharraf Hossain’s home in Banglabandha of Bangladesh is just 10km from Siliguri. But every time the trader went to the north Bengal town to buy stones, he had to make a 170km detour.
Not any more. Mosharraf is relived now as new immigration facilities were today inaugurated in Fulbari on the Indian side and in Banglabandha across the border, creating a new transit route between the two countries.
The new transit route is expected to benefit Siliguri the most. North Bengal’s biggest town is only 7km from Fulbari. The other transit routes are Mahadipur in Malda, Hilli in South Dinajpur and Changrabandha in Cooch Behar. reported The Telegraph.
So far, only goods traffic was allowed through the Fulbari route into Bangladesh.
“It is an important day for us. The Fulbari-Banglabandha corridor is the closest to Siliguri. Whether it is Mahadipur in Malda, Hilli in South Dinajpur or Changrabandha in Cooch Behar, the nearest towns are at least 25km away. Moreover, there is no proper rail connectivity in the area to move to other parts of India, except in Malda,” Mosharraf said.
“The New Jalpaiguri station is only 5km from Fulbari, while Bagdogra airport is only 20km. Traders like us will be largely benefited with the new route.”
Residents on the Indian side said the new route would not only boost trade and commerce but also increase flow of tourists.
“This new route to Bangladesh will not only boost trade and commerce but will also help in strengthening friendship between both countries. Both India and Bangladesh are dependant on each other and if we have to walk forward, we have to walk together,” said General (retd). V.K. Singh, the Union minister of state for external affairs.
Singh was speaking at a programme on the Banglabandha land port campus. “We are trying to simplify the process of immigration between the countries.”
Asaduzzaman Khan, the minister of home affairs in Bangladesh, termed the inauguration historical.
“Such exercises will largely help the residents of both countries. This new transit route of Fulbari-Banglabandha will also bring a major boost in the tourism sector. We can now easily access Bhutan and Nepal with whom we have trade relations,” Khan said, while appreciating both the governments for the initiative.
From Fulbari, Kakarvitta, the bordering town of Nepal, is around 50km, while Phuentsholing, the bordering town of Bhutan, is around 155km away.
Anwar Hossain, another importer of stones based in Banglabandha, also summed up the benefits of the Fulbari route.
“Thousands of students from Bangladesh study in schools located in and around Siliguri and the hills. The export-import business is also based in Siliguri. Moreover, thousands of tourists from Bangladesh visit Darjeeling every year,” Anwar said.
The inauguration of the new corridor comes at a time the construction of Asian Highway 2 has begun. The highway will enter Bangladesh via Fulbari and will enter India from Nepal via Kakarvitta and Panitanki.
It will move through the outskirts of Siliguri. From Banglabandha, Dhaka is around 475km away.
At the inauguration, Union minister Singh was accompanied by Bengal ministers Firhad Hakim and Gautam Deb and Darjeeling BJP MP S.S. Ahluwalia.
Later, speaking to reporters at Fulbari, Singh said: “We have taken the initiative to ease the process of issuing a visa. It will be made simpler.”
Asked about regional issues like the opening of a Passport Seva Kendra in Siliguri and improvement of infrastructure on the Indian side at Nepal and Bhutan borders, he said: “We will surely open the Passport Seva Kendra. The process of giving passports has become very simple nowadays. As far as the infrastructure on the borders is concerned, we are aware of the status and will take necessary initiative jointly with the state.”
Senior officials of the state and central governments and the BSF were present at the inauguration.