Over the years, it has rapidly become evident that cooperation between countries in the South Asian sub-continent is the best way for mutual economic development. Of course, the benefits aren’t exclusively economic, as increased regional cooperation also allows forward-thinking individuals and groups on either side of the fence to prosper without obstacles in the way.
Of course, that cooperation can only exist as long as the appropriate levels of connectivity does as well, and on that front Bangladesh still has some ways to go vis a vis its regional neighbours. To that end, it is good to know that the country recently floated a tender seeking to upgrade a two-way road linking its key eastern land border port with India's northeast, into a four-lane dual carriageway.
The move is ostensibly a demonstration of Bangladesh’s continued commitment to fortify Indo-Bangla cross-border connectivity in a bid to increase bilateral and regional trade between our two countries to higher levels.
According to a recent Dhaka Tribune report, converting the 43km road between Sylhet and Sheola Land Port, adjacent to Sutarkandi Land Port in Assam, India into a dual carriageway stands to greatly enhance cross-border trade and commerce all the while creating further scope for the export of commodities to the seven northeastern states of India.
This is exactly the kind of pro-active moves that Bangladesh has been in need of in the here and now. Despite recent diplomatic faux pas on the part of India when it comes to Bangladesh’s internal affairs, both countries continue to enjoy healthy trade relations with room to grow.
It is only by removing the remaining infrastructural barriers that our nation can truly make good on its trade potential.
