Soon, Bangladesh to open Visa office in Siliguri

Darjeeling: Bangladesh would soon be opening a Visa office in Siliguri that will be extending consular activities. After establishing air links with Guwahati, scheduled for mid 2019, Bangladesh has plans to connect Bagdogra by air link as well. These steps will boost people-to-people contact, thereby benefitting both the countries.

The Integrated Checkpost at Banglabandha border is a few kilometers away from Siliguri. Addressing media persons in Darjeeling on Tuesday, Syed Muazzem Ali, High Commissioner, Bangladesh High Commission, Delhi, stated that relations between both the countries has reached a new high with efforts from both the countries and the Visa office in Siliguri would boost exchange between the two countries.

"This is the golden era of India-Bangla relations. After 68 years, the enclave issue has been resolved. There are no border disputes between the two countries, whether on land or water. There have been no security problems in the past 9 years" stated the High Commissioner. Stress is being given to improve communication. Before 1965 there were 8 railway links with India. After 1965, services had come to a grinding halt. "Already, 6 of these links have been revived. The remaining two will be revived soon," stated the High Commissioner. Soon, a railway link will be established between Akhaura in Tripura and Chittagong port in Bangladesh.