Bangladesh allows use of ports for first time: Jaishankar

India's External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar, has recently expressed appreciation for the burgeoning connectivity between India and Bangladesh, highlighting its transformative impact on the northeastern region of India, India Today reports.

"If you go to Bangladesh today, the road connectivity today, the fact that the trains running..the buses running...For the first time in Bangladesh's history, they have actually allowed Indians to go through Bangladesh and use Bangladeshi ports and this has had a huge impact on our northeast," Jaishankar said. 

He continues, "Otherwise, the people of the northeast have to come down to the Siliguri corridor and come through Bengal and then go down to our eastern ports...the entire northeastern economy will change because of this."

The two nations share deep-rooted civilizational, cultural, social, and economic ties, which are further strengthened by a shared history, common heritage, linguistic and cultural connections, and a passion for music, literature, and the arts, the Indian minister said.

The Agartala-Akhaura rail line, once completed, will dramatically reduce travel time and distance between Bangladesh and India's northeastern states, fostering greater market access, commodities transit, and people-to-people communication, he added.

Dr. Jaishankar's acknowledgement of the growing connectivity underscores the mutual benefits and the strategic importance of India-Bangladesh relations.

It reflects a shared vision of prosperity and development, not just for the two countries but for the entire South Asian region.

As India looks eastward with its Act East Policy, the strengthening of ties with Bangladesh is pivotal, enhancing regional cooperation and asserting greater influence in the Indo-Pacific strategy, the report adds.

/KN/