RANGPUR. Oct 9: There Is a bright prospect to establish direct business link between Bangladesh. India. Nepal and Bhutan with setting up of a land port at Sonahat border In Kurigram district, reports UNB.

’This will also help setting up industries and creating employment opportunity in the area," a delegation of FBCCI said this after visiting the area In September last.

It was learnt that there had lx?en road and rail link between Lalmonirhat of Bangladesh to Dhubri of Asam, India via Mogolhat. Gitaldha, Joy Monirhat, Patershon, Sonahat and GolokganJ during the British period but the communication was suspended after partition.

But the bridges and other infrastructures on the route are there and It is possible to restore the road and rail link between Sonahat to the northeastern states of India after completion of the Dharala

Bridge.

A competent source said that a proposal to set up a land port at Sonahat Is under active consideration of the government.

Local people said many Jute mills, paper mills and agro-based Industries could be set up beside the Dharala bridge after establishing the land port which will boost the economic activities of the country and create employment opportunity.

Meanwhile, construction works on 648-metre Dharala bridge, at a cost of Tk 97.85 crore, is going on in full swing.

About 35 per cent work of the bridge has been completed and the rest is expected to be completed by January 2003.

Prime Minister Sheikh Haslna inaugurated the construction w-ork of Dharala Bridge on February 24.