New Indo-Bangla immigration point to boost trade between South Asian neighbours

SILIGURI: Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Tibet and India, these five South Asian neighbouring countries are coming even closer with opening up of a new immigration check post between India and Bangladesh at Phulbari near Siliguri. Location of the check point right on the upcoming Asian Highway is expected to give a quantum jump to the trade relationship between these countries.

The formal opening of the immigration point will take place on 18th of February in presence of dignitaries including Union Home Minister, India, Mr. Rajnath Singh and his Bangladesh Counterpart Mr. A. Khan along with ministers of West Bengal state Government- as learnt.

Phulbari in Indian side, with Banglabandha in the opposite side of Indo-Bangla border at a distance of around 8 km from Siliguri, was opened as a land port in January 2011 at a cross-border ceremony attended by the then Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Bangladesh's Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury. But immigration was not allowed through the point.

“With close bondage between the two countries, people of both will have even better opportunity to come closer when this port gets opened as a full fledged immigration center in newer future,” Mr. Mukherjee said in his speech.

Compared to other land ports in Bengal, Phulbari enjoys the privilege of being closest to Indian international borders with Nepal, Bhutan or Tibet . Its importance further went after coming into the alignment of Asian Highway.

The span of this fast upcoming super Highway connecting Nepal with Bangladesh via Phulbari is likely to get completed by next 18 months. “A full fledged immigration point here will facilitate faster and better access of people of one country to the other and thus boost up trade opportunity giving a quantum jump to the cross border trade and commerce between all these five countries,” said CII North Bengal Chapter Vice Chairman Mr. R. Bihani.