Tri-nation bike expedition to boost border ties

A 33 member bikers' team of Assam Rifles (AR) troupes arrived in Tripura through Akhaura checkpoint from Bangladesh on Thursday.

The bikers are conducting a Tri-Nation Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Unity and Heritage Motorcycle Expedition. They will be traveling in India, Bangladesh and Myanmar in a 7-day tour.

The tour was flagged off by Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad from Shillong to Sylhet in Bangladesh on 30 October.

The team met freedom fighter of 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War at various stopover points.

Brigadier Ashwani Nayyar of Commander 21 Sector AR said, "It will foster friendship and greater bonhomie and coordination between our border guarding forces. Also, it will improve the contacts between two security forces and the two governments and foster friendship between the nations."

The expedition team will pass through the six Northeastern states of Meghalaya, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura to enter Myanmar to complete the 2150 km long expedition tour.

The team will also pay homage at various war memorials and graves of Indian martyrs during the Second World War on the foreign soil.

The aim of the Expedition is to foster force to force connection with border guarding forces of Bangladesh, Myanmar and India, besides bringing bonhomie between the three nations as well as the role in ensuring the security and stability in the North East region.

The entire expedition has been designed to spread the message of peace, harmony and national integration across the states and the International border.