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The newly-constructed modern integrated check post (ICP) at Benapole-Petrapole point of India-Bangladesh border has started its formal journey in a bid to facilitate increased trade and commerce between the two next-door neighbouring countries.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi jointly opened the ICP infrastructures Thursday afternoon through videoconferencing from Dhaka and New Delhi respectively.
Sheikh Hasina joined the videoconferencing from her official Ganobhaban residence in Dhaka while Narendra Modi joined it from his New Delhi office.
Besides, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee joined the videoconferencing from her Kolkata office.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, PM’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr Gowher Rizvi, PM’s Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad and Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla were present at Ganobhaban, while Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was present at the Prime Minister’s Office in New Delhi.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina termed the event as another special and memorable day for Bangladesh and India, and said it would open up a new horizon in bilateral cooperation in the region.
The day is also very significant in terms of mutual exchange between Bangladesh and India, she noted.
Terming inter-country trade as the main driving force for domestic economy, the premier said Bangladesh-India bilateral relations are very important for such transnational trade.
In this connection, she mentioned that the governments of both the countries have already taken various initiatives to further boost trade ties between the two countries and make the relations sustainable.
In its continuation, she said, infrastructures conducive to trade and commerce have been built at Benapole-Petrapole point.
The Bangladesh prime minister hoped that the mutual trade and commerce would be further strengthened following today’s inauguration of the ICP at Benapole-Petrapole point.
Sheikh Hasina mentioned that it was necessary to modernise Benapole-Petrapole land ports as the major portion of the goods of bilateral trades is transported through these ports.
She also hoped that recent development of the infrastructures there would ensure completion of trade-friendly service-oriented activities between the two countries.
About the impact of the newly-built integrated check posts, the prime minister said it would not only expand trade and commerce but also play a role in strengthening inter-connectivity between the two countries.
“Besides, it will help complete all immigration formalities of the visitors travelling to and from India more quickly than before,” she said.
She thanked Indian Prime Minister Nariendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for setting up the ICP at Petrapole according to the earlier commitment of their government.
The premier also greeted the people of Bangladesh and India as both the governments have successfully implemented the initiatives to further enhance mutual communication between the friendly people and businessmen.
This ICP at Benapole-Petrapole point is the second multipurpose integrated check post between the two countries. The first one along the Akhaura-Agartala point on India-Bangladesh border was opened in November 2013.
The check post will have customs and immigration facilities, weighbridges, security and scanning equipment, currency exchange booths, internet facility, cargo inspection sheds, warehouse and cold storage.
Other facilities include banks, scanners, closed-circuit televisions, cafeteria and hotels.
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