Better NE-Bangladesh Ties Will Boost Development: Chandra Mohan Patowary

SILCHAR: The delegation of 12 MLAs and 15 officials led by Chandra Mohan Patowary, Industries and Commerce Minister, which was on a two-day exploratory visit to Bangladesh, landed here on Friday evening on their way to a week-long tour of Myanmar on Saturday morning. After crossing over from Bangladesh to the Sutarkandi Trade Centre in Karimganj, Patowary along with MLAs Dilip Kumar Paul and Aminul Haque Laskar among others briefed journalists about their mission. The improved relations with Bangladesh have set his government to go for strengthening trade and commerce ties which besides economic regeneration will also create job opportunities, Chandra Mohan Patowary said, adding that Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is keen to have rail, road, water and air connectivity with Dhaka. The Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh has extended all possible help in this direction.

In the scheme of things, focus is not only on Northeast as a whole but also on the Barak Valley which is envisioned as a hub of economic resurgence. The rail link through Mahisasan that has remained snapped since 1950 has to be restored. Bus services between Silchar and Sylhet is under active consideration. Revival of waterways through Bangladesh will be cost effective and boost development of the valley, pointed out Patowary. The delegation had very fruitful discussions with the Chamber of Bangladesh and that of Sylhet for trade ties.

Minister Patowary further said that the NDA Government’s thrust on the ‘Act East Policy’ is on building economic bonds with the South East countries in which Bangladesh has a big role to play. This will make the States in the region economically self-reliant. Dhaka has agreed to open Chittagong port for all the north-eastern States. It is also under consideration to link Ledo with Chittagong port and Makum to Sylhet by rail. Sutarkandi will be the market hub of both the countries. Industry and commerce companies of Bangladesh are keen to expand business in Assam. “Our government is in touch with the Ministries of Home, External Affairs and Commerce for the necessary nod,” Patowary pointed out.

Late in the evening, members of trade and business bodies of Barak Valley met Minister Patowary in the conference hall of Deputy Commissioner Laya Madduri. They raised various issues which included frequent power cuts that hampered the industrial units and the tea industry. The issue of ‘syndicate raj’ in coal from Meghalaya also figured and the Minister assured this would be eliminated. The positive development about Modi Government’s initiative to connect Assam with National Power Grid was shared with the trade body representatives. This would go a long way in meeting the power shortage, Chandra Mohan Patowary said.

Also Read: No Syndicate Under This Government: Chandra Mohan Patowary