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India-Bangla transit

By Spl Correspondent - 15 Sep 2010 12:00 AM GMT

NEW DELHI, May 5 � There is no proposal to convene a meeting with Bangladesh to exclusively deliberate on restoration of all pre-1965 linkages by road, rail and rivers.

In a Lok Sabha reply to a question by Dr Vinay Kumar Pandey, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said that the two countries have agreed to revive the Akhaura-Agartala rail link, which India will construct as a grant.

Bangladesh also agreed to operationalise the lands custom stations at Sabroom-Ramgarh and Demagiri-Thegamukh.

During the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India, both sides welcomed the starting of Maitree Express between Kolkata and Dhaka, which would restore rail link between the two neighbours after more than four decades, he said.

In reply to a separate question by Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, Krishna said that at least 10 agreements have been renewed and signed with Bangladesh during the last two years. The agreement ranges from Trade Agreements to bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement signed on February 9 last year, amongst others.

The agreements seek to enhance bilateral trade and investments, facilitate inland water transit and trade, facilitate the movement of passengers of the two countries, enhance cooperation in power sector, increase cultural exchanges and also strengthen cooperation in counter terrorism and security related matters.