State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury has called for opening of immigration system at Radhikapur land port of West Bengal, India, opposite to Birol land port of Dinajpur.
State Minister said this during a meeting with Indian High Commissioner Prannoy Kumar Verma in Dhaka on Tuesday. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest.
This was informed in a press release sent to the media in the name of Senior Information Officer of the Ministry of Shipping Md. Jahangir Alam Khan.
According to the press release, the issue of bay-terminal development of Ashuganj sea port and Akhaura land port, Payra port, Mongla port and Chittagong port was discussed between them. They discussed the introduction of immigration system at Radhikapur land port in West Bengal, India opposite to Ramgarh land port at Khagrachari and Birol land port at Dinajpur.
According to the press release, the Minister of State for Maritime Affairs emphasized on speedy introduction of immigration system at Radhikapur land port. He said that the immigration system was in operation here before Covid-19. Passengers of both countries were very comfortable in traveling. During the pandemic, the immigration system was closed at several land ports. Radhikapur is one of them.
He called for to speed up the immigration process. He emphasized on the introduction of cruise services between Bangladesh and India`s Kolkata and the ease of getting their visas and disembarkation of the crew. They discussed expediting the maritime protocol route issues.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Chairman Commodore Arif Ahmed Mostafa and Ministry of Shipping Joint Secretary Development Md. Rafiqul Islam Khan were present there accordig to the press release.
