Bangladesh favours reopening rail link with India: Sheikh Hasina

Dhaka, July 22 (ANI): Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed her government's interest in reopening a rail link between Bangladesh and India to establish stronger connectivity between the two neighbouring countries in the fields of trade, investment and people-to-people contacts.

The railway link was severed following 1965 India-Pakistan war and has been non-operational since then.he conveyed this at a meeting with a Federation of Indian Chamber and Commerce of Industries (FICCI) delegation at her office on Tuesday.

According to The Independent, Hasina also sought India's cooperation for trade with Nepal and Bhutan through the Banglabandh and Burimari land ports. T

Hasina told the FICCI delegation that all land ports in the border areas would be developed with necessary infrastructure to ensure smooth movement of men and materials.

Emphasizing that regional connectivity was the need of the hour, Hasina said efforts were on to develop the country's rail and road communications.

She also called on Indian entrepreneurs to invest more in Bangladesh, especially in food processing and agro-based sectors saying "Bangladesh would offer very good incentives for the investors."

She called upon business chamber leaders of both the countries to hammer out ways to remove trade barriers and other obstacles to narrow down the trade deficit gap.

When the Indian delegation requested her to set up Special Economic Zone for Indian investors, Hasina told them that her government has plans to set up special economic zones where Indian entrepreneurs can invest like others.

"If the Indian businessmen come forward to set up such zones in Bangladesh, the present government will extend all necessary cooperation," she said.

Terming poverty as the main problem of South Asia,Hasina said only concerted efforts for overall development and improvement of the quality of life of people of the region, could end it. (ANI)