Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link Jointly Inaugurated By Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi And Hon’ble Prime Minister Of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina.

Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday (1st November, 2023) jointly inaugurated Agartala-Akhaura Cross Border Rail Link and two others development projects via video conferencing.

With the inauguration of three projects including Agartala-Akhaura rail line the bilateral relation between India and Bangladesh has touched new heights. It is indeed a matter of delight that we are together celebrating this success, stated the Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi today after virtually inaugurating the cross-border rail link. Today Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Hon’ble Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina virtually inaugurated two more projects. These two projects sponsored by India are – Khulna-Mongla Port rail line and Unit II of Maitree Thermal Power Plant. The virtual inauguration programme was also attended by the Hon’ble Union Railway minister Ashwini Baishnav, Hon’ble Union external affairs minister Jai Shankar and top officials of Indian and Bangladesh railways. The virtual programme at the secretariat of Agartala was attended by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, chief secretary J.K. Sinha, secretary to the CM Dr. P.K. Chakraborty and other high officials.    

At the inaugural programme PM Modi said, the kind of development for connectivity enhancement including infrastructural development materialized in two countries was not witnessed in the previous decades. Both the countries have signed bilateral agreement for peace, security and stability on the land border which was long overdue. The Prime Minister said, India and Bangladesh have shared a close relation since the time of Bangladesh liberation war. During the last nine years the internal trade in both the countries has also tripled in volume. During the last nine years, three new bus services have been launched to connect Dhaka, Shillong, Agartala, Guwahati and Kolkata. With the inauguration of Akhaura-Agartala rail link connectivity will also be developed with Kolkata via Dhaka. In addition, the Northeast region of India has been connected with Chittagong and Mongla port during the last nine years. During the last nine years the Government of India has opened four new Integrated Check Posts on the Indo-Bangla border which will further boost economic development in both the countries. During the same time three new train services have been launched between India and Bangladesh. The Prime Minister said, the Government of India will always stand by Bangladesh to build ‘Sonar Bangla’ of Bangabandhu. Because our aim is to maintain the Sabka Sath, Sabka Viswas policy with the neighbouring countries as well.

Addressing the inaugural programme of Agartala-Akhaura rail line the Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina said, we are committed to have a consolidated relation between India and Bangladesh. Having common culture with Tripura state an emotional relation has developed. The way the people of Tripura lent their support during the Bangladesh liberation war can never be forgotten. This history should be upheld to the next generation of Bangladesh as well. The three projects inaugurated today would equally benefit the people of Bangladesh, Tripura and other northeastern states. Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina also appreciated the gesture of the Prime Minister of India for maintaining a cordial relationship between two countries. She also thanked the PM Modi for offering a very warm hospitality during the G-20 Summit in New Delhi recently. Both the Prime Ministers inaugurated the projects by pressing a button. A documentary on the three projects was also screened on this occasion.

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