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Reopen Chilahati land port, rail link with India

Shortest route to India, Nepal, Bhutan and China to boost trade and tourism, business circles say

EAM ASADUZZAMAN, Nilphamari
The shortest rail communication from Bangladesh to India, Nepal, Bhutan and even China can be reestablished by reopening the link from Chilahati in Nilphamari district to Holdibari just across the border in India, which would boost trade and tourism.
The distance between Chilahati rail station and Holdibari is only 11.3 km, of which 8.10 km rail track is in Bangladesh and 3.24 km in India. The route was closed on September 6, 1965, a day after the Indo-Pak war.
After opening of the Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge, the then Awami League government had decided in 1997 to reopen the route from Chilahati to the border, but the decision is yet to be implemented.
Chilahati, with all business and transit facilities and infrastructures built during British period, can facilitate landlocked Nepal and Bhutan to use Mongla port in Khulna. The two countries are very much interested to use to the Mongla port for their export-import trade, business circles here said talking to this correspondent.
In 1953, a land customs office was set up near Chilahati railway station for transit of passengers and goods. The Chilahati Merchants Association was one of the big business organisations in northern districts.
President of Nilphamari Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sohel Parvez said ChilahatiHoldibari rail link can play an important role in boosting trade with these countries and promote tourism.
Unlike many important land ports in the country, Chilahati has rail link, which can considerably reduce transport cost in export-import trade. Chilahati has direct rail link with Khulna via Parbotipur, Shantahar, Iswardi, Chuadanga and Jessore. This can be extended up to Mongla port, he said.
Banglabandha in Panchagarh district and Burimari in Lalmonirhat are two important land ports but have no rail link. Road transport cost to the ports is higher, he said.
Local people, joined by businessmen organised demonstrations on several occasions last year for reopening of Chilahati land port and the rail link, but to no response
from the authorities, he said.
Abu Musa, general secretary of Chilahati Land Port Implementation Committee, said their reopening would be a boost to economic activities in northern districts, affected by monga every year. This would also promote intra-SAARC trade.
Across the border, Holdibar has good rail and road communications with rest of India and its neighbouring countries.
From British period till September 1965, the famous Darjeeling Mail used to run from Chilahati to Calcutta via Darsona.
Direct rail link can be established from Chilahati to Dhaka via Jamuna Bridge.
Using the Chilahati-Holdibari rail route, it would be easy to reach Kakorvita, a bordering business centre in Nepal, only 90 km away. Bhutan's bordering business town Funt Soling could be reached via Shiliguri and Joyga.
This would be the shortest rail link with China via Shiliguri in India and Nepal. The proposed India-China highway would open up greater trade prospects with China through Shiliguri and Gangtok, sources said.