By Mir Afroz Zaman, Dhaka, Dec 26, 2020: Indo-Bangla friendship was strengthened in 1971 during Bangladesh’s liberation war. BNP-Jamaat Alliance, which acted against India at that time, prevented the restoration of Chilahati-Haldibari rail routes between India and Bangladesh.
The present Awami League government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, took the initiative of restoring the rail routes, said Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan.
In an interview with UNI today, the minister said, the pro-liberation government, led by Hasina, took the initiative of restoring the lost glory with India.
Two Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and India on December 17, 2020 signed agreements and MoUs on seven matters.
Concerned Bangladesh officials and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Bikram Doraiswami signed the agreements on behalf of their respective sides. Later the matter of the signing was disclosed during the virtual Summit between Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During the virtual Summit of two Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and India, Chilahati-Haldibari rail routes, which remained snapped after 1965 war between India and Pakistan, was inaugurated again.
The minister termed the restoration of the rail routes as a historical incident. Passengers between the two countries will use the routes soon, he said.
The minister told that the routes passing through Chilahati in Bangladesh and Haldibari in India was closed during Indo-Pakistan war in 1965.
Nurul Islam Sujan said, a train named ‘Darjeeling Mail’ used to ply on Sealdah, Ranaghat, Bheramara, Santahar, Hili, Parbattipur, Nilphamari, Chilahati, Haldibari, Jalpaiguri and Shiliguri in the past. Similar train service on same routes between the two countries will be introduced again.
Ties between the two countries, including expansion of trade and commerce, will be strengthened further through the restoration of the rail routes, said the minister.
Nurul Islam Sujan said: “There is no place for anti-liberation forces in the country. The anti-liberation forces are still hatching conspiracy. The people of Bangladesh along with the support of India will foil any conspiracy to be hatched by anti-liberation forces”.
Pro-Pakistani Non-Bengalees are still occupying a huge amount of land belonging to Bangladesh Railways. A portion of that land has already been recovered while efforts are on to recover the rest, he observed.
