AGARTALA, May 20 (TIWN): Appointed as 16th Governor of Left ruled state Tripura, 70 years odl engineer turned politician Tathagata Roy after assuming his office on Wednesday, May 20 pitched for the development of the North Eastern states comprising of Tripura.Roy, who was found to be a media-friendly man on Wednesday talking to the reporters here at Governor’s House (Raj Bhawan) also viewed to strengthen the bi-lateral relations between India and Bangladesh.He said, “Forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh would further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.” Adding to that he said, “I am delighted to hear that during that visit, PM Modi would flag off a direct bus service from Kolkata to Agartala via Bangladesh.” “I cannot express my happiness in words after reading this news and I am wholeheartedly praying that this should materialize,” Roy added.Roy said good ties with Bangladesh were important for Tripura, as the state was surrounded by the neighbouring country in three sides.India would soon launch direct bus service between the north eastern states and Kolkata via Bangladesh to ferry people easily from the mountainous region.

Tripura has been demanding direct bus services between Tripura and other north eastern states and Kolkata via Bangladesh for easy movement of people of the north eastern region to other parts of India.

However Roy later said that after arriving here at the state to assume his office he invited Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and held a discussion with him taking up several issues of the state.

He also said that the central govt. is very serious about the development of the North eastern region.

“My ideological background has no part to play here in Tripura because President has appointed me as a Governor of Tripura and I feel proud to take the charge,” adding Roy also said, “I would work here for the betterment of the state and I hope the Government here would extend its helping hand in this regard.”

Tathagata Roy on Wednesday assumed his office as a Governor of Tripura after taking an oath of office administered by Tripura HC Chief Justice Deepak Gupta in present of Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, state Chief Secretary Y P singh at Raj Bhawan Durbar Hall.