State minister for shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury inaugurated the Belonia Land Port constructed by Bangladesh Land Port Authority at Parshuram upazila of Feni District.
Bangladesh Land Port Authority chairman Md Alamgir presided over the opening ceremony, said a press release.
Member of Parliament of Feni-1 constituency Shirin Akhtar, Ministry of Shipping secretary Md Mostafa Kamal and Feni deputy commissioner Abu Salim Mahmud-ul were present as special guests.
Bangladesh has inaugurated the Parasuram-Belonia land port on their side of Belonia while the construction work on the Indian side is yet to begin. Water Transport Minister of Bangladesh Khalid Mahamud Choudhury formally inaugurated the port in the presence of many other signatories.
Talking to the reporters the minister said several railway projects including the reopening of the Fenny-Belonia railway line are in progress and expected to be completed soon. He said once the Fenny-Belonia railway line is inaugurated, it will open the door for Bngabandhu Industrial Park to have trade with the eastern states of India.
In a public meeting, the minister said not only trade and commerce, once the railway line is opened it will increase the people-to-people contact between the two countries and it will be a major guarantee for the overall development of the region. The Belonia land port was fully funded by Bangladesh and it incurred a cost of 38 crore and 64 lakh Taka. Bangladesh imports domestic cattle, fish lings, fruits, seeds, wheat, stone and stone chips, coal, timber, onion, chilly, ginger, etc through this port.