Bangla-Nepal rail link on the way
January 8th, 2010 - 10:03 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Jan 8 (IANS) Bangladesh’s dream of a two-way transit rail link to Nepal via Indian territory is set to move a step closer to reality during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India that starts Sunday.
India has cleared a long-pending demand of Dhaka to start the transit rail link between Bangladesh and Nepal through its territory, reliable sources said here Friday.
A deal on the rail link is expected to be announced during Sheikh Hasina’s visit during which the two sides will also sign three counter-terror agreements and a pact on expanding power cooperation.
The rail link was discussed between the foreign secretaries of the two countries in Dhaka in November last year.
Bangladesh and Nepal had signed a transit agreement in 1976 for expanding bilateral trade, but it could not be implemented as India did not allow its territory to be used for passage at that time for security reasons.
Both Bangladesh and Nepal have to use Indian territory for road or railway connectivity between them.
The two sides are working to finalise the most convenient route for rail transit from Bangladesh to Nepal.
India is understood to have decided on the Rohanpur-Shinghabad border point as a possible transit point on its border.
After a nod from India, Bangladesh is reportedly moving to open a new land route to Nepal and offer it the use of its Mongla port in the Bay of Bengal for export of goods to a third country.
The decision by India to clear the Bangla-Nepal rail transit link is part of a broader Indian strategy to put relations with Dhaka back on track by focusing on increasing connectivity and trade between the two countries.
India is set to announce a $500 million line of credit for upgrading railway infrastructure in Bangladesh, that will include the supply of locomotives and coaches.
India is also keen on stepping up its land-route connectivity through Bangladesh to boost trade in its seven north-eastern states, part of a plan to offset Chinese influence in the region.
The rail connectivity issue will also figure in the discussions when Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee will call on Sheikh Hasina Tuesday.
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