By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, DEC 18, 2020: INDIA and Bangladesh ushered in a new era of people to people connectivity between the nations as they flagged off the Haldibari-Chilahati rail link on Thursday during a virtual bilateral summit.

Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi said Bangladesh was one of the significant pillar of India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy as he shared his satisfaction over their bilateral relations with Bangladeshi counterpart Ms Sheikh Hasina.

"From the very first day, strengthening and development of relations with Bangladesh has been a special priority for me," Mr Modi said at the summit. He tweeted later that he was looking forward to his visit to Dhaka next year.

From rail and air to road connectivity and ports, New Delhi is looking at enhanced economic integration and people movement with Dhaka.

The railway network of India and Bangladesh are mostly inherited from British Era Indian Railways. Up to 1965, there were seven rail links that were operational, of which four have been restarted between Petrapole-Benapole, Gede-Darshana, Singhabad-Rohanpur, and Radhikapur-Birol, which makes Haldibari-Chilahati the fifth line to be operationalised.

The rail link connecting Haldibari in India and Chilahati in Bangladesh was flagged off virtually but will be operationalised when the COVID-19 situation improves.

The countries also signed seven agreements in areas of hydrocarbon, community development, elephant conservation, supply of equipment, agriculture, and cooperation between the national museums, among others.