CHITTAGONG: Chittagong City corporation mayor AJM Nasir Uddin has flagged off the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) friendship motor rally from the port city.

After night halt at Chittagong, the rally comprising of 20 vehicles and 80 delegations decorated with flags of four countries is heading towards Dhaka.

At the time, the mayor said, the motor rally will further strengthen the friendly relations of four countries. Huge awareness has been created though this.

Replying to a question, he said, a big success is not achieved overnight. Security is an important issue around the world. Each country is maintaining extra security measures. Bangladesh has taken all necessary measures in this regard.

He said, “As mayor of Chittagong, I am discharging my responsibility on priority basis and I will always do so. Chittagong plays a role in stimulating the relations among the four countries.”

The city has also a pivotal role on a variety of important issues as it is the country's main seaport and transit connectivity, the mayor added.
On behalf of Bangladesh government, a group of six members has joined the rally under the leadership of deputy secretary of Home Ministry Nirodh Chandra Mandal.

The other members of the delegation include second secretary of National Board of Revenue (NBR) Shahidul Islam, Roads and Highways Department deputy director Maqsudur Rahman, director (Port and Customs) Syed M Bathtiar, Shyamoli Paribahan manager Nayon Kumar Ray and Banglanews24.com senior correspondent Mazadul Haque.

Deputy secretary Nirodh Chandra Mandal told banglanews that the BBIN friendship rally had flagged off in Indian state of Odissa on Saturday (November 14) afternoon.

It reached Chittagong after crossing Jharkhand, Bihar, Sikkim, Meghalaya of India, different parts of Bhutan, and Assam, Tripura, West Bengal of India and then entered Bangladesh through Bilonia border of Feni district, he added.

On November 30, a seminar on BBIN will be held at Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel in Dhaka.

On December 1, the car rally will start for Kolkata through Benapole and the curtain of the friendship rally will fall there through a seminar.

However, the BBIN MVA was signed at Thimphu on June 15 this year with the aim of extending road network among these countries.

BDST: 1205 HRS, NOV 29, 2015
RS/SMS

** BBIN rally enters Bangladesh