South Asia
Bangladesh-India Initiatives taken to enhance cultural and trade relations with India's Assam
Guwahati, Assam, February 26: Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hassan Mahmood held a meeting with Governor of India's Assam, Jagadish Mukhi, and Chief Minister of the state, Himanta Biswa Sarma. They discussed fruitful initiatives to enhance Bangladesh's cultural and trade ties with Assam and to take practical steps to improve the four-way communication by road, rail, sea and air.
Dr. Hassan Mahmood, who is visiting Tripura and Assam, met them separately on Thursday afternoon, first at the Chief Minister's Office and later at the Governor's Raj Bhavan. The 28th Governor of Assam, Prof. Jagadish Mukhi, and Dr. Hasan Mahmud discussed mutual travel, cultural activities and increased trade with a view to establishing Assam's closer ties with Bangladesh. At the same time, they emphasized on green forestry to balance the growing industrialization and the environment.
Earlier, Information Minister and Joint General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League, Hasan Mahmud, had a meeting with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Discussions were held on resumption of Dhaka-Guwahati direct flight as well as of Cox's Bazar flight from Guwahati via Agartala to increase the capacity of Chittagong port including navigability to facilitate trade by sea.
The meeting also discussed the connection of Bangladesh with the traditional huge railway network of Assam and development of road connectivity in order to increase public relations between Bangladesh and Assam. They opined that in order to make land ports more efficient, infrastructure reforms and up-to-date import-export rules need to be updated.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said his government will invite 15 Bangladesh freedom fighters for a special reception on the occasion of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence.
Both the governor and the Chief Minister tweeted after the meeting. The governor wrote in his tweet that the meeting with the Minister of Information and Broadcasting of Bangladesh discussed various issues, especially green forestry and environment.
Describing the meeting as a pleasure, the Chief Minister tweeted, "Assam's cultural and traditional ties with Bangladesh need to be deepened through the expansion of trade and commerce. The port of Chittagong is the key to facilitating the waterways of North-East India. Thank you Bangladesh government for your cooperation in this regard."
