The Bangladesh government has high hopes that a 660m-long bridge to India through the Rangamati border area will bring significant benefits for the country by boosting regional trade. The bridge, proposed by the Indian government, will go across the Thega river and effectively connect Chittagong seaport and Lunglei in the northeast Indian state of Mizoram.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Monday told Dhaka Tribune: “Bangladesh is very positive about the new connection with India [through the proposed bridge].

“The cross-border transport systems that Bangladesh is developing with India is an important step due to the important role such an initiative may play in regional trade,” he added.

The minister did not share details of the bridge project.

According to a letter from the foreign ministry, the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) under the road transport and bridges ministry has already sent the foreign ministry a no-objection certificate (NoC) regarding the proposal on the border bridge.

(SAM)