AGARTALA, July 14 (TIWN): MP Jitendra Chaudhury on Monday met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and urged upon her to intervene in easing VISA regulations for Bangladeshi citizens to visit Tripura and other NE states.Citing the central government policy to boost relations with Bangladesh, including a new visa policy to grant five year multiple entry visas to Bangladeshis below 13 years and above 65 years of age, Chaudhury said that trade volume between Bangladesh and India increased considerably.

Chaudhury suggested easing of VISA regimes to allow Bangladeshi aspirants to enter India from Land Custom Stations located in the North Eastern States, by way of specifying some quota or priority to applicants, who wish to enter through Land Custom Stations (LCS) of the region for economic development of North Eastern States.

The Trade Communities, Exporters & Importers Associations, Chambers of Commerce, businessmen, students, academics, sports persons and cultural activists for issuance of multiple visa to the persons who intend to visit Tripura for the purposes of trade, research, higher studies, sports and cultural exchanges.

Tripura, one of the eight States in North Eastern Region, shares about 856 km international border with Bangladesh. The location of Tripura is strategic in the international context, being surrounded by Bangladesh on three sides that too on eastern part of Bangladesh, which is connected to South East Asian countries.

In the past, the state had natural communication links – roads, rail and waterways with and through Bangladesh. Efforts are on for revival of these communication links. Many major cities of Bangladesh and towns of Tripura are closely located.

Dhaka is locate barely 150 km away from Agartala, Kailashahar is situated 90 Km away from Sylhet district headquarters in Bangladesh. Distance between Sabroom and Chittagong is 75 km, Sonamura and Comilla are barely 25 km away from each other.

“The direct distance between Agartala and Kolkata through Bangladesh is only 350 km. The state is gearing up to perform its natural and geographically assigned role of the Gateway to the North East India. Due to the concerted effort of both Central and State Government, the trade volume between Bangladesh and India has been increasing considerably”, Chaudhury said and added that frequent movement of people across both sides of the border is needed for maintaining continuity.