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The two countries were connected by a bridge over the Feni River on the Bangladesh-India border at Ramgarh in Khagrachari. This is the first time that a river bridge has been used on the border to connect two neighboring countries. The prime ministers of the two countries inaugurated the bridge on Tuesday.
Referring to the time of the bridge’s inauguration as a historic moment, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina said: “Bangladesh has created a new era in South Asia by bringing connectivity to India. We are in an area where connectivity was conservative and where interregional trade is much less likely than expected. I believe that political restrictions should not be a physical barrier to business.
The Prime Minister further said that the people of Tripura can not only use the Chittagong sea port, but also the Chittagong International Airport.
On the other hand, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “Connectivity not only strengthens the friendship between Bangladesh and India, but also creates great opportunities for trade and commerce. The entire Tripura region is developing as a trade corridor between Bangladesh and Northeast India.
The 1.9 km long bridge connects the town of Sabroom in Tripura, India with Ramgarh. The bridge has been named Bangladesh-India Friendship Bridge-1. The two prime ministers laid the foundation stone for the bridge on June 6, 2015 with the aim of improving direct connectivity with the seven eastern states, including Tripura and Mizoram in India. The bridge was built by National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) of India at a cost of Rs 133 crore.
The distance from this bridge to Chittagong port is only 60 kilometers. This will greatly facilitate the transport of goods from the port to the northeast part of India, including Tripura.
The bridge was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, and the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, in a virtual ceremony yesterday afternoon. At the same time, an integrated checkpoint was also placed in the Tripura sub-room. The Prime Minister of India inaugurated a number of projects, including the inauguration of the Friendship Bridge, via videoconference from New Delhi. Previously, the Prime Minister’s speech was broadcast on video conference. Tripura’s Chief Minister Biplob Kumar Dev also addressed the function.
The bridge of friendship is not only with India; Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hoped that Bangladesh would also facilitate trade with Nepal and Bhutan. In her speech, the Prime Minister also reminded the people of Tripura about the refuge, support and cooperation of the people of this country during the liberation war.
Sheikh Hasina said that in 2010 the then chief minister of Tripura had proposed to build a bridge over the Feni River. He said the bridge is very important for Northeast Indian merchants to use Chittagong port. Your request was deemed positive. Since then, the government of Bangladesh has provided all necessary assistance to the Indian side in the construction of the bridge.
The Prime Minister said: “Today, after 10 years, this bridge is a reality. This bridge will be a commercial “lifeline” for Northeast India. As you all know, Bangladesh has already allowed India to use the ports of Chittagong and Mongla to transport goods. “
Sheikh Hasina said that the launch of the Feni Bridge would allow West Bengal and the landlocked states of northeast India to transport goods through Bangladesh. Kolkata was previously the closest sea port to Agartala, 1,600 km away. At present, the nearest sea port in Bangladesh, Agartala, is less than 100 km from Bangladesh.
Regarding the development of the Bangladesh-India cross-border transportation system, the Prime Minister said: “We believe that the development of the Bangladesh-India cross-border transportation system is an important step and will play an important role in boosting trade and commerce. regional trade “. He further said: “We hope that the Friendship Bridge will significantly improve the socio-economic conditions of the people of Tripura and the adjacent states of Northeast India. We hope that the alliance will contribute to improving the livelihoods of Bangladeshis living in the near the bridge.
Sheikh Hasina said: “Along with its geographical location, the growth trajectory has made Bangladesh a very attractive neighbor in South Asia. As one of the leaders in the global textile industry, we have created a unique path for ourselves. Bangladesh has become an attractive destination for domestic and foreign investment. As the hub of connectivity between South and Southeast Asia, Bangladesh is ready to make the most of its location.
Hoping for a successful operation and use of the Maitri Bridge, the Prime Minister said: “We are inaugurating the Maitri Bridge at a time when we celebrate the centenary of the birth of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the golden jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and India. ” “India opened its borders to Bangladesh 50 years ago in support of the independence struggle in 1971. Today, together we are creating a prosperous region,” he added.
In his speech, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the rail and river connectivity initiatives implemented in recent years will be further strengthened through the Friendship Bridge. The bridge will strengthen connectivity with Bangladesh and South Asia, including Tripura, South Assam, Mizoram and Manipur. Modi said the alliance bridge would also accelerate economic opportunities in Bangladesh.
The Prime Minister of India thanked the Government of Bangladesh and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for their cooperation in the implementation of the Friendship Bridge Project. Modi said he laid the foundation stone for the bridge during his visit to Bangladesh. With the implementation of the bridge, people will no longer have to rely solely on roads to carry goods to and from Northeast India. Efforts are also being made to connect the northeastern part of India with the port of Chittagong by river.
Narendra Modi said that the “Integrated Control Post” (ICP) in Tripura’s secondary hall would act as a “logistics center”. There will be warehouses, containers for transshipment facilities. With the construction of a bridge over the Feni River, Agartala will be the city in northeast India closest to the international seaport. In order to strengthen the connectivity of the northeastern states with the port, a project to expand two national highways (NH-08 and NH-207) has been undertaken.
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