Akhaurah (Tripura): Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Sunday inaugrated India's second international-standard multi-purpose Integrated Check Post (ICP) and the first along the Bangladesh border at Akhaurah.
The multi-use ICP built at a cost of Rs.74 crore was inaugrated in the presence of Bangladesh Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and senior officials of the two countries.
“This event should not be seen simply as inauguration of one ICP but as the beginning of the next phase of the long relationship between the people of two great nations on the path of peace and prosperity,” said Shinde.
“India and Bangladesh are interlinked like no other nations in the Earth. Our destinies are intertwined just like our history and geography.
"Within our resources India remains committed in supporting to the comprehensive development of Bangladesh and the aspiration of the people,” said Shinde.
“We believe that India and Bangladesh must develop and grow together ensuring that our growth provides more opportunities to both our people.
"India has always followed a policy of extending and deepening its ties with Bangladesh on the basis of respect of each others sovereignty and mutual benefits.
" I am confident that the ICP Agartala with enhance the people-to-people contact and cross border trade between two trusted neighours” , said Shinde.
He also assured that the ICP at Petrapole on West Bengal-Bangladesh border will be completed by next year and the work at Dawki border in Meghalaya with Bangladesh will be started soon.
Bangladesh Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir said, “Trade increases prosperity and contributes to the welfare of the people.
"As a student of economics I for one is inclined to believe that increased trade between India and Bangladesh especially through Ahkaurah will pave the way to realize our aims. At some stage of history in not too far distant future these sub-continental countries will be strengthened and united under an economic union.”
Akhaurah land custom station (LCS) is the second biggest land port along the Bangladesh border and it deals with around 4,500 people every month travelling between the two countries.
Also, It is one of the most important international trading land ports in eastern India, with an average of 200 Bangladeshi trucks loaded with goods entering Tripura every day.
On an average 150 to 200 visas were issued per day earlier this year, but now it has come down to around 70 to 100 per day due to political turmoil in Bangladesh.
India is setting up of 13 ICPs along its international border as part of a major initiative which the Centre has undertaken during the five-year plan at a cost of Rs.635 crore.
