Banglabandha, country’s only land port that has connected Bangladesh with three of its neighbours – India, Nepal and Bhutan – and is on process to link China, is becoming growingly important with each passing day.
Apart from export and import of goods, Banglabandha land port in Panchagarh district is being used for cross-border travel of people from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan.
Officials say a process is going on for export and import of goods between Bangladesh and China through the land border, which, they said, will be the only land port in Asia that connects five countries.
Businessmen in the country want the government to take necessary measures to expand trade with Nepal and China through the Banglabandha land port.
Business leaders have already held meetings with Nepalese and Chinese ambassadors in Dhaka to discuss the importance of the connectivity with China through the land port via Nepal.
Banglabandha land port was established 23 years ago on September 1 in 1997 through transportation of goods between Nepal and Bangladesh.
Later, export-import trade between Bangladesh and India through the land port in Panchagarh, the northernmost border district of the country, was launched on January 22 in 2011.
Siliguri in India is only 86 kilometres away and Darjeeling only 85 kilometres from Banglabandha port.
Officials at the port said the number of passengers travelling to and from India is increasing on the route day by day for easier communications.
According to them, every day around 100 tonnes of goods are exported and imported through the port while around 8,000 to 10,000 people cross the border every month.
Mehdi Hasan Khan Babla, president of Panchagarh Import-Exporter Association, said the port was established to strengthen relations of Bangladesh with India, Nepal and Bhutan, facilitate export-import activities, and expand trade.
He said they are working tirelessly for the development of the port since its inauguration.
According to the association, the Ministry of Railways is already in the process to construct a rail line from Panchagarh to Banglabandha.
“If this plan is implemented quickly, the activities of the port will get further boost,” Babla said.
Panchagarh Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sabina Yasmin said Banglabandha land port has more potential than any other land port and that the government is taking various steps to take the port forward.
Railway minister for long-term master plan on Banglabandha
Railway Minister Advocate Nurul Islam Sujan said a long-term master plan is needed for the country's only quadrilateral land port, Banglabandha, because the land port is very important for the country.
Banglabandha has more potential than any other land port as it has connected Bangladesh with several neighbouring countries.
He directed the officials concerned, the business community and district administration to come up with a specific master plan for development of the land port.
Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan said a process is underway to expand railway connectivity from Panchagarh to Banglabandha.
“There are plans to establish a rail link with other countries through this land port via Siliguri in India,” he said.
The minister said the project to set up a rail line from Panchagarh to Banglabandha will be finalised soon.
“Hopefully, the project implementation work will start by next December. If the railway line is extended to Banglabandha, the development of all linked with this land port will be ensured and revenue of the country will increase,” he added.
Bus route from Dhaka to Darjeeling and Sikkim through Banglabandha
A bus route from Dhaka to Darjeeling and Sikkim in India through Banglabandha border remains operational with the trial run of BRTC bus service beginning in December last year.
As part of the initiative, two buses crossed Banglabandha border on December 13. The buses first went to Darjeeling via Siliguri via Phulbari in India.
