Silchar-Sylhet bus service a must, says Bangladesh's Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen

A CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: As the roads on both sides of the fence of the Assam-Bangladesh border at Karimganj are adequately motorable, bus services between Sylhet and Silchar should be started, stated Bangladesh's Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen here on Saturday.

Speaking to the mediapersons, Momen, who is on a two-day visit to Silchar to attend the Silchar-Sylhet Festival, said that considering the number of tourists from Barak Valley to Bangladesh, particularly to Sylhet and Cox Bazar, a separate Visa office should be set up in Silchar immediately and he discussed the issue with DoNER Minister J Kishan Reddy last night after the inaugural function of the festival. Momen said, that trading between the two neighbouring countries had accelerated in recent times as the governments both in Delhi and Dhaka share cordial relations.

He, however, admitted that there were some forces which have been conspiring to destabilize the conducive atmosphere prevailing in both the countries.

Meanwhile, Momen inaugurated a 'Bangabandhu Mujib' corner at the premise of National Institute of Technology (NIT). Prof Rajat Gupta, director of NIT, was also present on the occasion.

Abdul Momen said that since Barak Valley and Sylhet maintain historical, cultural and linguistic affinity, exchange programmes in the fields of trade and commerce should be stressed upon. Maintaining that the Guwahati-Dhaka air service would resume very soon, Momen said that the Bangladesh government would approach its Indian counterpart to start the flight service via Sylhet. Passengers from Assam could easily catch flights to London or Saudi Arab from the Sylhet international airport, he added.

Earlier in the day, Assam Minister for Act East Policy Affairs Chandra Mohan Patowary, while participating in a panel discussion on trade and commerce, said that rail route up to the Mahishashan border would be completed within this year and Bangladesh now should accelerate the remaining portion in their country so that train service could also start.

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