Bangladesh
Cargo Gate | Petrapole Cargo Gate-Passenger Terminal inaugurated at Petrapole Land Port
The second cargo gate and passenger terminal-1 of Petrapole land port in India has been inaugurated. State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and Indian Minister of State for Home Affairs Nisith Pramanik inaugurated the cargo gate and terminal on Friday (September 17).
Speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said India-Bangladesh relations are deep and have evolved over time.
"India is our true friend. Bangladesh-India relations are a role model for any neighboring country. This relationship written with blood cannot be severed," he said.
He said, "India-Bangladesh relations are not just about friendship, it is about brotherhood. It is like following the heights that the relations between the two countries have reached at present. This relationship will be even stronger. I respectfully remember India's contribution to the great war of independence."
The State Minister for Shipping said that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman laid the foundation of relations between the two countries through the 25-year 'Friendship Agreement' in 1972, which has been further consolidated and diversified since the incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to power in 1996. The Ganges water agreement, exchange of enclaves, provision of transit facilities and maritime boundaries have been identified through his hands. Bangladesh has now become an important partner of India due to India's border policy (neighbor first).
He added that thousands of people from Bangladesh travel to different states of India every day for travel, business and medical treatment, with Benapole being the main gateway to Petrapol.
The Minister thanked the Land Port Authority of India for constructing another passenger terminal building at Petrapole to provide better services to tourists and traders.
The state minister for shipping said 12 of the 24 ports announced by the land port authority in Bangladesh are operational. The rest will be launched in phases.
Among others, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityananda Rai and Nishith Pramanik, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami, Chairman of Indian Land Ports Authority Aditya Mishra and Chairman of Bangladesh Land Ports Authority Md Alamgir spoke on the occasion.
