Kolkata, May 23: Bangladesh has sought cooperation
of Mamata Banerjee, the new Railway Minister, for improving
rail links between the two neighbours and also invited her to
the country.
"I will work in cooperation with Mamata Banerjee to
improve railway connectivity between India and Bangladesh,"
Bangladesh Communication Minister Syed Abul Hossain said
over telephone from Dhaka, while congratulating her for taking
over the charge of the ministry.
Hossain said that he would request Mamata to ensure
India's assistance in constructing a rail-cum-road bridge over
the Padma river connecting Dhaka with Jessore.
Stating that a USD 1.8 billion-bridge was likely to open
to traffic by 2013, Hossain, under whose ministry the railways
in his country falls, said he would seek India's cooperation
in making the railway line operative at the same time.
The Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pinak Ranjan
Chakraborty has been given an official letter in this regard,
he said.
"The matter will be discussed at the India-Bangladesh
joint economic committee and the concerned department in the
Bangladesh Finance Ministry will take necessary action," the
minister said.
Inviting Mamata to visit Dhaka he said, "Before going
abroad, Banerjee should visit Bangladesh. Premier Sheikh
Hasina has also invited her through me."
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, May 23, 2009, 20:34