- Delhi must play bigger role to better ties, says Tripura CM

Agartala, April 2: Chief minister Manik Sarkar today said the Sheikh Hasina-led government in Bangladesh was keen to implement projects beneficial to the Northeast.

Talking to reporters this morning, Sarkar said during Prime Minister Hasina’s visit to New Delhi in January this year, eight Tripura-specific issues had been discussed and resolved and the Bangladesh government was working hard to implement them as early as possible.

The chief minister said the Hasina government had already cleared the transit of heavy turbines of ONGC’s Palatana project in south Tripura across waterways in that country by agreeing to let Ashuganj river port in Comilla district be designated as the “port of call”.

Sarkar, who had been invited by the Bangladesh government as a guest of honour in its national day programme on March 26, said he had been accorded a warm reception in that country.

“I was deeply touched by the warmth and sincerity of their approach to relations with India and specially with Tripura. The people and leaders of Bangladesh still gratefully remember that during their liberation struggle in 1971, Tripura had played host to more than 1.6 million refugees,” he said.

During his daylong stay in Bangladesh, Sarkar had met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and external affairs minister Dipu Moni.

“I found both of them so warm and responsive to the Tripura-related issues I had raised. Both of them readily agreed to have all issues sorted out,” Sarkar said.

“I had raised the issues of a bridge across the river Pheni in South Tripura and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina agreed readily but said if the Centre met the expenses, there would be no objection from Bangladesh,” the chief minister said.

He added that the Bangladesh government on its part would widen and strengthen the 17km road between the Akhaura checkpost, west of Agartala and Dakha in Brahmanbaria district in Bangladesh.

“The Centre’s role has to be more positive and forthcoming as the Bangladesh government is ready to reciprocate. The Prime Minister as well as Dipu Moni categorically told me that they are keen to further cement trade and business ties with the northeastern states so that both the Northeast as well as Bangladesh could benefit from this,” said Sarkar.

He said railway service between Tripura and the rest of India across Bangladesh and bus services between Agartala and Calcutta across Bangladesh would soon be a reality. “I expect all issues concerning Tripura to be resolved because the present Bangladesh government has the political goodwill in this matter,” said the chief minister.

Sarkar also said the Tripura Central University would confer D. Lit on the Bangladeshi Prime Minister when she visits in November.

Turning to issues within the state, the chief minister said that a major drive for administrative reforms would be launched soon. The last set of reforms had been implemented in 2005. However, a new six-member committee headed by chief secretary Sudhir Sharma had been constituted last year to make fresh proposals for reforms.

“The committee submitted 117 concrete proposals out of which we in the cabinet have accepted 87, leaving 20 others for review. After finalisation of everything, the actual reforms will be implemented,” Sarkar said.

Source Telegraph