Bangladesh and India today decided to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure construction and operational efficiency at various land ports and check posts located along their international border.

The decision was taken at the sixth sub-group meeting of Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) with Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA) in New Delhi.

The bilateral meeting aims to strengthen ties and discuss issues related to cross-border infrastructure, connectivity and trade facilitation between the two countries, reports our correspondent in New Delhi.

Among the major items on the agenda of the meeting were development of port facilities at Gede (Darshna in West Bengal) and Bholaganj (Meghalaya), speeding up customs clearance of export goods from Bangladesh at Petrapole (Bengal Western) and Agartala, prioritizing development of land ports and check posts (ICPs) and is considering a common cargo gateway at Bhomra (Ghojadanga in West Bengal), the statement said.

The meeting also discussed facilitating the movement of Bangladeshi trucks carrying exports to Nepal and Bhutan through Burimari and Banglabandha ports in that country, operationalization of Sabroom land port (Tripura), development of the port of Tegamukh (Bangladesh)-Kawrpuichhuah (Mizoram) and establishment of some ports operational 24×7, he added.

“Building on discussions held at the subgroup’s last meeting in Dhaka in November 2023, the meeting reviewed progress made on previous initiatives and identified new areas of cooperation to improve infrastructure and efficiency operational of land ports”, indicates an official Indian press release. .

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to “deepen” India-Bangladesh relations, strengthen bilateral trade and advance common goals in regional connectivity and economic growth through “collaborative” management of borders, the statement said.

The Bangladesh delegation present at the meeting was led by Tahmina Yeasmin, Joint Secretary and Member (Development) of BLPA, along with officials from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the ministries of industries and shipping, among others.

The Indian side was led by LPAI Member (Planning and Development) Sanjeev Gupta with officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Border Management Division (MHA), Border Security Force (BSF), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Customs. , among others. END