Assam CM flags off Guwahati-Dhaka bus service

Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Dhaka-Kolkata and Dhaka-Guwahati bus services in Dhaka, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday flagged off the Guwahati-Dhaka service at the inter-state bus terminus here.

Terming the development as the beginning of a new era between the two countries, Gogoi said that the move will enhance communications between the north-east region of India and Bangladesh.

He remembered his visit to Bangladesh with the then prime minister Manmohan Singh in 2011 and said the relationship between the two countries has improved since then, and the bus service between Guwahati and the Bangladesh capital was a consequent result.

"The central government has been improving its ties with its neighbours like Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar by developing road communication with these countries and I hope some day we are going to have direct road connectivity to China," Gogoi said.

"Better communication improves trade and commerce, which in turn expedites economic development. There was road communication, and water transport between Assam and Bangladesh long time back. Many well known people in Assam had studied in Dhaka University."

Hoping that the rail link between Assam and Bangladesh will be developed soon, Gogoi also stressed on the need of having a bus service from Assam's Karimganj district to Dhaka.

The bus left from the terminus on Saturday evening and will halt for the night at Shillong and is likely to reach Dhaka by Sunday evening, covering a distance of 496 km -- 196 km over Indian territory and 300 km over Bangladesh territory.

The route which will be followed by the bus encompasses Guwahati, Shillong, Dawki and Sylhet.

--Indo-Asian news Service

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