ASHUGANJ: A 20-member joint team of Bangladesh and India visited Ashuganj river port Wednesday to monitor the infrastructure-and road-development works for the transshipment centre in the making for freight transportation to India’s northeast.

Additional secretary of Communications Ministry Khandakar Iftekhar Haider led the host team while the Indian side was headed by first secretary of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka Sushil Singhal.

They visited jetty, silo and ferry terminals of Ashuganj river port on the bank of the River Meghna.

Later, they held a meeting with Brahmanbaria DC Abdul Mannan and visited different border areas.
 
Delegation members said about 50 acres of land would be acquired to implement the transit route from Ashuganj river port to India’s far-flung northeastern region.

Three terminal jetties, port customs office, BIWTA office, land-port office, container terminal, crane yard, warehouse, electric-sub station, truck yard and rest house and other establishments would be constructed at the transit hub.

High officials of Communications and Foreign Ministries of both the countries, and representatives from Bangladesh Shipping Ministry, NBR and Roads and Highways Department were in the team.

Work on the planned transshipment centre will start in November to facilitate transportation of Indian goods to their landlocked northeastern states, known as seven sisters.

BDST: 1543 HRS, SEPT 1, 2010.