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International-trade transit point in peril |
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September 6, 2000
Panchgarh (UNB) - When the Banglabandha transit point was opened three years ago, the government was very enthusiastic. But now officials here say the transit point has contributed little to promoting bilateral trade between Nepal and Bangladesh. It was September 1, 1997 when the commerce ministers of Bangladesh and Nepal inaugurated the transit point at Banglabandha in Tetulia upazila with much enthusiasm to bolster bilateral trade between the two countries. But the enthusiasm did not last long. "The benefit has so far been achieved from the transit point is minimal and there is no plausible reason to believe that things will take a positive turn in the near future," said an official wishing anonymity. He said three years have already elapsed since the inauguration of the transit point, but no step has been taken yet for its infrastructure development. The transit agreement signed between Nepal and Bangladesh seems to have been shelved. As there is no immigration facility in the Banglabandha check-post, many Darjeeling-bound tourists now have to take up circular trips only to waste money. Local people, particularly patients and students, are now demanding of the government for taking steps to introduce direct bus communication between North Bengal and Darjeeling. Bangladesh signed a transit agreement with Nepal in 1976. So did seven SAARC countries during the SAARC summit in 1985. The SAARC countries also signed SAPTA in 1993 agreeing to take appropriate measures to give transit facilities to each other for bolstering bilateral trade and overall economic development in the South Asian region. As part of the agreement, a transit route between Bangladesh Nepal from Banglabandha via Fulbari of India to Kakarbhita of Nepal was inaugurated on September 1, 1997. But it could not be made effective due to non-cooperation of the Indian government and the absence of wider roads in Bangladesh. Highlighting the importance of the land route, FBCCI president Abdul Awal Mintoo once in a letter to Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria had said some 2 million Bangladeshis visit Darjeeling while 10 million visit Nepal every year through different long routes. He said a large number of tourists would use the Banglabandha transit point if the land route could be commissioned, sending huge revenues into the government exchequer. "It will also brighten the prospect of reopening Thakurgaon Airport apart from gearing up development activities in the region." According to local businessmen, bilateral trade with Shiliguri and Jalpaiguri of Assam would be boosted after the commissioning of the transit route in addition to accelerating industrialisation in the region. They demanded of the government to take necessary steps to reactivate Banglabandha as a full-pledged land port. |