According to authorities from the Bangladesh Land Port Authority, the government wants to open Ramgarh land port in Khagrachhari by 2023 in order to enhance trade with India’s north-eastern states (BLPA).
“Work orders for creating the requisite infrastructure have already been granted to several contractors at a cost of Tk 123 crore,” said BLPA member (traffic) Mohammad Jahangeer Kobir.
Furthermore, by the end of this year, the BLPA hopes to have at least immigration services available at the land port.
Indian officials have previously encouraged Bangladesh’s government to commence immigration services ahead of the start of import-export activities at Ramgarh, according to Kobir.An inter-ministerial meeting was held to this end at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where an approval was sought from the Ministry of Home Affairs to begin immigration through the land port. In addition, India has already started constructing integrated check-posts in Sabroom of Tripura in anticipation of the movement of goods and travellers once the port becomes operational, Kobir added. The BLPA has acquired 10 acres of land in Ramgarh to establish the necessary port infrastructure, which is being developed with financial support from the World Bank under the regional connectivity project.
