Tripura's Development Impossible without Bangladeshi Support: CM Biplab Kr. Deb

Guwahati, October 22, 2019:

"Tripura's development is not possible without Bangladesh's support as 80% of Tripura shares its border with Bangladesh", said Tripura's Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb at the ongoing Indo-Bangladesh stakeholders meet at Guwahati, Assam, on Tuesday.

To prove his point, Biplab stated that the Chittagong port was meant for the development of the Northeast, but due to partition it was moved to Pakistan, and later, to Bangladesh. He further added that Haldia port is the nearest port that is nearest to the Northeastern states.

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"Due to less surface area for water transportation, Tripura is dependent on road connectivity, resulting in huge losses to the State exchequer", Biplab stated.

Terming Northeastern states as "eight Lakshmis", Biplab said that the 4.5 crore population region is a hub of resources from minerals, oil fields, tourism spots, hornbill, among others.

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Biplab stated that the business in the Northeast has great scope, and tourism is being boasted through air connectivity.

Biplab also suggested that the "immigration points" can be used as a point of transportation between the two countries in Tripura, in order to reduce the long routes.

Import and export of products entails the investment of huge amounts of money, but if that trade route is moved to Tripura's border it will be reduced, he said. "All are Indian borders then why not through the Northeastern borders?", he queried.

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