Dhaka-based dailies report that July 16 will be a significant day in Indo-Bangla relations. After nearly three decades of bilateral negotiations, Bangladesh will finally allow the transshipment of machines and equipment through its own territory for building the Palatana power project in Tripura, on the day.

To meet a long term of demand from India for transit rights for cargo through its territory, Bangladesh has began a taka 250 crore project to expand and strengthen facilities at Ashuganj port, to enable it to receive and handle heavy construction and other equipment to be used for the power project.

The port is 49 kilometres from Tripura and a new road is being constructed to make sure heavy equipment can be moved without difficulty. Similar work has been undertaken from Ashuganj to the Tripura border in Bangladesh.

Authorities in Bangladesh, who include the Adviser to the Prime Minister and spokesmen of Indo-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries, are hopeful of increasing the volume of bilateral trade and business through these measures. They also demanded that India make visa rules easier to help more businessmen from Bangladesh to visit their neighbouring country. Ex Lok Sabha Speaker Purno Sangma and Indian diplomatic sources in Dhaka have also welcomed the move.

The opposition BNP led by Mrs Khaleda Zia, had persistently refused to allow India any transshipment facility through its territory, despite official announcements in both countries to improve connectivity and border facilities at SAARC and BIMSTEC.

Both countries will also arrange for regular markets to be set up along the Triputa Bangladesh border soon.

India is not the only country that Bangladesh is dealing with in the matter of connectivity. Recently Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made a strong plea to link her country with Myanmar and China by road and Railway..

Her proposal is to build a two kilometer road from Ramu to Gundum on the Myanmar border and to carry on with the construction of the road up to Bolibazar in Myanmar, at Bangladesh's expense. From Bolibazar to Kyankstow, a distance of 110 kilometres, Myanmar will build the road. There is a link from Kyankstow to Kunming, in China.

The Chinese too have been diplomatically more active in Bangladesh of late. Vice President Xi Janping has just concluded a two -day visit, during which he met Mrs Zia, too. The former BD Prime Minister received an invitation to visit China as “a trusted friend.” Ms Zia specially requested China to help with the construction of a deep sea port at Sonadia and received an assurance of help. (IPA)