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Reopen Chilahati-Holdibari route to ease communication with West Bengal

Nilphamari people demand

Our Correspondent, Nilphamari
As Chilahati land customs checkpoint in Bhogdaburi union of Domar upazila under the district has remained inoperative for six years, thousands of people requiring travel to and from India are facing problem to cross a long way to Burimari checkpoint in Lalmonirhat district
The situation arose due to the Indian authorities decision to close Holdibari land customs checkpoint in Kunchbihar district of West Bengal on June 28 in 2002.
The people of Nilphamari and adjoining areas have demanded reopening of the route immediately through bilateral talks of high officials of both the countries.
Chilahati-Holdibari transit route had been in use since partition of the sub-continent in 1947.
A large number of Bangladeshi citizens from the area go to India for treatment, business, meeting their relatives and others purposes.
Besides, about one lakh Urdu speaking people, mostly descendents of the refugees who had come to the then East Pakistan from Bihar in India, who are now livingln Saidpur town, constitute a large number of travellers who visit India to meet their relatives.
Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industries President Mostafa Azad Chowdhury said business community of Jalpaiguri in West Bengal have urged him to persuade Bangladesh government to negotiate with their Indian counterpart for opening Chilahati-Holdibari
transit route.
At present, five land customs staff are posted at Chilahati checkpoint. They include a customs inspector, a female MLSS, two guards and a peon employed on master role basis.
Peon Farid, who is a resident of the area, told this correspondent that now his duty is to hoist the national flag of Bangladesh daily while the other staff stay at Saidpur and Nilphamari as they have prac-
tically no work.
After closure of Holdibari checkpoint by India, the people of Nilphamari requiring travel to India have to cover a long distance to Burimari checkpoint in Lalmonirhat district, from where they go to Chengrabandha checkpoint in India, said Nilphamari town resident Pijush Sarkar, whose son studies in India.
Many Bangladeshi travellers in
this route have also alleged harassment by Indian hoodlums on the other side of the border.
Re-opening of the transit route will help a large number of people of Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur and Nilphamari districts, who have to travel to and from India for various purposes, said Murad Ali Pramanik, chairman of Bhogdaburi union.
Indian travellers will also get benefit from it, he said.