Dhaka: India will be allowed to use Bangladeshi territory to reach seven landlocked north-eastern Indian states through establishment of road and railway connectivity, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni disclosed.
Bangladesh will also be allowed to use Indian territory to reach Nepal and Bhutan, and will have direct access to the north-eastern Indian states, she said.
She also revealed that India will allow passage to Nepal and Bhutan as well, for their access to Mongla and Chittagong ports in Bangladesh.
"They [India] will allow Nepal and Bhutan to do third country trade," she said.
During Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in January, it was already agreed upon that Bangladesh will allow India to use the sea ports too.
"We are thinking about transforming Bangladesh into a regional hub, and when the entire region will be brought under connectivity, India will have access to its north-eastern states," Dipu Moni said while addressing a media briefing at the foreign ministry on Sunday on the occasion of Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to the country which led to the signing of a loan agreement between Bangladesh and India.
In March this year, Hasina also sought Chinese assistance for establishing direct road and rail links with China. A specific proposal was put forward for construction of Chittagong-Kunming highway through Myanmar to boost trade and economic cooperation.
"Bangladesh has been almost isolated regionally and globally, but we don’t want to be isolated as the world is now moving fast, and countries around the world are connecting with each other for economic development," the foreign minister said at the briefing yesterday, adding that Bangladesh will benefit economically by allowing transit facilities to India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
The issue of allowing India transit to its north-eastern states through Bangladesh was a bone of contention between the two neighbours.
Replying to a question, Dipu Moni said not only trucks from Nepal will have access to Banglabandha in Bangladesh, similarly Bangladeshi trucks will also have access to Nepal through India.
2. Two Jamaat leaders held in Rajshahi, C’nawabganj
Two top Jamaat-e-Islami leaders from Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj units were arrested Monday morning.
The arrested are Abdul Malek, acting secretary general of Rajshahi Jamaat unit, and Mokhlesur Rahman, Jamaat Ameer of Chapainawabganj pourasava unit.
Boalia police arrested Malek from his Chhoto Bongram Uttarpara residence in the city, reports our staff correspondent in Rajshahi.
Malek, 51, is a member of the city Jamaat Majlish-e Sura, the highest policymaking body of the party, police said.
He was an accused in a case filed in June under the Explosive Substances Act, said Shahadat Hossain, officer-in-charge of Boalia Police Station.
The OC said Malek led some 50 Jamaat and its student organisation Islami Chhatra Shibir men in bringing out a procession in the city on June 30.
They also blasted some cocktails during the procession and clashed with police in Sonadighi area, he added.
Earlier, police arrested five other Jamaat leaders in connection with the case filed against 36 people.
Our Chapainawabganj correspondent reports, Sadar police arrested Mokhlesur around 10:00am in front of Balugram College of the upazila for his alleged involvement in subversive activities.http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=25216
3. Hasina invites Khaleda to iftar party
Dhaka: Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina Sunday sent an invitation letter to Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia to attend PM’s iftar party for politicians on the fifth of Ramadan at the Gono Bhaban.
Protocol Officer to the PM Pralay Kumar Joarder delivered the invitation letter at the leader of opposition’s Sangsad Bhaban office at about 11:30 am.
The premier will hold iftar party for orphans, physically challenge people, wounded freedom fighters and Islamic scholars on the first day of Ramadan at Gono Bhaban.
She will also hold iftar party for diplomats, judges, and civil and military officials on Ramadan 3 while for the professionals on Ramadan 7.. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=150007
4. Khaleda too invites Hasina to iftar party
Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia on Monday invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to her iftar party on August 17.
BNP will host the iftar at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in honour of the political leaders.
Khaleda’s Personal Secretary Saleh Ahmed and Assistant Personal Secretary Surutuzzaman formally handed over the iftar invitation to Prime Minister’s PS Selima Begum at the Prime Minister’s Office at 12:30pm.
BNP has also invited the ministers and leaders of the ruling party to the iftar party.
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=25225
