Staff Reporter :Dhaka and New Delhi on Thursday opened the second Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Benapole-Petrapole border in a bid to facilitate increased trade, easy movement of goods as well as passengers between the two countries.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi jointly inaugurated the ICP along the Benapole-Petrapole part of Bangladesh-India border through video conferenc.Hasina joined the videoconferenc from her official residence Ganobhaban in Dhaka while Narendra Modi from his New Delhi office. Besides, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee joined the from her Kolkata office. Hasina termed the India as a friend country, hoping that good relations between the two countries will be enhanced through the inauguration of the check post. “We will be able to solve any problem by holding bilateral talks with India,” Hasina said.In his inaugural speech, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Bangladesh should not see itself alone in its fight against terrorism and asserted India’s full support to Dhaka to stamp out terrorism.Modi told Hasina in Hindi, “Don’t think you are alone in the battle against terrorism. You will get full support of India in that battle.” The Indian PM extended his deepest condolences on the deaths in recent terror attacks in Bangladesh. UNB adds; Urging her not to consider herself alone in her fight against terrorism, Narendra Modi told Hasina that his country will extend all possible help to Bangladesh to fight the menace.Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, PM’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi, PM’s Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad and Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla were present at Ganobhaban.Narendra Modi said it is very much painful for the people of India that terrorists unleashed attacks in Dhaka and Kishoreganj alongside on temples, priests and common people during the holy month of Ramadan. Extending sympathy and condolences of the entire Indian nation to the family members of those innocent victims of the terror attacks, the Indian Prime Minister said, “The entire India is beside you (Hasina) in this toughest time.” Lauding the successful and firm leadership of Hasina in tackling this tough situation, he said, “You (Hasina) never ever consider yourself alone in your fight against terrorism; rather the support of full of India is beside you.” Modi also told her Bangladesh counterpart, “In your (Hasina’s) fight against terrorists, India is always ready to extend all sorts of support.”He said the inauguration of Petrapole checkpost will not only promote bilateral trade but also boost economic growth of both the countries. “Eight such integrated check posts along Indo-Bangladesh border will set up in the future,” he added. The Indian Prime Minister said the flourishment of India is associated with all the neighbouring countries while Bangladesh and India are both advancing towards progress. Terming the setting up of integrated check post between Benapole and Petrapole land ports an ‘important milestone’, Narendra Modi said this would also boost people-to-people ties between the two countries. He said the Petrapole-Benapole land border crossing is an important one for India and Bangladesh as 50 percent of the bilateral trade passes through this while trade worth more than Rs 15,000 crore took place through the Petrapole ICP in fiscal year 2015-16. Besides, some 15 lakh people travel through these two land ports every year. The integrated check post will also serve to foster greater economic integration and connectivity between the two countries.Petrapole ICP will aim to provide better facilities for effective and efficient discharge of functions such as security, immigration and customs. It will also provide support facilities for smooth cross-border movement of people, goods and transport.In her speech, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina termed the event another special and memorable day for Bangladesh and India, saying it would open up a new horizon in cooperation of bilateral relations in the region. “The day is also very significant in terms of mutual exchange between Bangladesh and India,” she noted.Terming inter-country trade as the main driving force for domestic economy, Hasina said Bangladesh-India bilateral relations are very important for such transnational trade. She mentioned that the governments of both the countries have already taken various initiatives to further boost the trade ties between the two countries and make the relations sustainable. In its continuation, she said, infrastructures conducive to trade and commerce have been built at Benapole-Petrapole point. The Bangladesh Prime Minister hoped that the mutual trade and commerce would further be strengthened following the inauguration of the the ICP at Benapole-Petrapole point.She hoped that recent development of the infrastructures there would ensure completion of trade-friendly service-oriented activities between the two countries.About the impact of the newly built integrated check posts, Sheikh Hasina said it would not only expand trade and commerce but also play a role in strengthening inter-connectivity between the two countries. “Besides, it will help complete all immigration formalities of the visitors travelling to and from India more quickly than before,” she said. Sheikh Hasina said the relations between the two countries deepened further following establishments of direct road, rail and river communications. Expressing the hope that the existing bilateral ties would remain beautiful and harmonious, she said: “We want to resolve any problem through bilateral discussion … we want to build this relation more beautifully.”Pointing out that the ICP at Benapole-Petrapole point was very much essential in the interest and welfare of the people of the two countries, she said “Banijya Basati Lakkhi” (business brings fortune).Underscoring the need for strengthening connectivity in the region through Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement and setting up BCIM Economic Corridor, Hasina said the people of the region will mostly benefit from the enhanced connectivity. She recalled with gratitude the contribution of India to Bangladesh’s War of Liberation in 1971. “We would never forget the contribution of the government and the people of India in 1971.” She thanked Indian Prime Minister Nariendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for setting up the ICP at Petrapole according to the earlier commitment.Hasina congratulated Mamata Banerjee on her party’s landslide victory in the recent state polls in West Bengal.She also greeted the people of Bangladesh and India as both the governments have successfully implemented the initiatives to further enhance mutual communication between the friendly people and businessmen. The West Bengal chief minister said, “Today is a historic day. It reminds me again that Ekush (21) does not end with any movement only, Ekush talks about development, too.”She said said Benapole-Petrapole Land Port started its journey afresh. “A new horizon has opened up in the field of trade and business through establishment of such a big port.” Mamata said her state government has taken a decision to set up a police station at Petrapole to maintain law and order in the area.She said the relations between the two neighbouring countries are everlasting like the flow of the Ganges, Padma and Teesta. The West Bengal CM extended Eid greetings to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and gave salam-Assala Malaikum to the Bangladesh prime minister.The Integrated Check Post will facilitate easy movement of goods and passengers across the border.The Integrated Check Post at Agartala along the Akhaura-Agartala was the first of seven Land Custom Stations along the Bangladesh-India border, being upgraded by the Land Port Authority of India. It was inaugurated in November, 2013. The others are Burimari-Chengrabandha, Sonamasjid-Mahadipur, Hilli-Hilli, Bibirbazar-Srimantpur and Banglabandhu-Fulbari.
