Work on setting up underground electric cable lines through the Tinbigha Corridor began on Monday to supply electricity to Dahogram-Angarpota in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat district.

Workers and technicians began the work in the morning as per an agreement India and Bangladesh reached at a district magistrate level meeting at the corridor on February 22, official sources said.

The two neighbouring countries decided to install underground electric cables through the corridor from March 1 for the enclave and signed an agreed minutes at that meeting.

District Magistrate (DM) of Lalmonirhat Md. Alauddin Fakir led a five-member Bangladesh delegation while DM of Coochbihar Sreemoti Mohapatia led a five-member Indian delega-tioninthemeeting

According to officials, the isolated people of Dahogram -Angarpota first started using the Tinbigha Corridor on every alternate hour for six hours a day from morning to evening from June 26 in 1992.

Later, the two governments agreed to keep the corridor open for 12 hours at a stretch from morning to evening daily when the Awami League (AL) government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina assumed power in 1996.

During the 1996-2001 period, the then AL govern-

ment built various installations, health complex and provided ambulance, medi-cines, equipment and appointed physician and nurses for 15,000 people of Dahogram-Angarpota.

The then government also extended electric lines up to the zero point of the Tinbigha Corridor, but the initiative faced a setback when the 4-party alliance government came to power in2001.

The initiative got fresh momentum when the Indian government agreed on installation of underground electric cable lines after assumption of power by the present AL government.

Joys of the people of Dahogram-Angarpota knew no bounds when 30 Bangladeshi workers started preliminary earthworks for the purpose in the Corridor Monday morning in presence of BDR, BSF and officials concerned of both sides.

Chairman of Dahogram-Angarpota union Saiful Islam, businessman Abdul Jabbar, 65, and class seven student Marjina Khatun, 13, of Dahogram High School expressed happiness at the move to supply electricity there.

Officials said a private construction firm of Bangladesh will set up the cables by engaging 30 workers for two days and 21 workers daily for the remaining 14 days to complete the works by March 16 next