Bangla considers offering port facilities to Indian states

Dhaka (PTI): Bangladesh’s new government led by Premier Sheikh Hasina has said it is considering offering port transit facilities to India’s seven landlocked northeastern states.

“The matter of giving port transit to seven-sister states of India as well as to China is under consideration of the government,” State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hasan Mahmud told reporters in northeastern port city of Chittagong on Saturday night.

India has for long requested such a facility for its northeastern states of Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and Sikkim.

“(But) the government will take any decision in this regard after considering the country’s interest and sovereignty,” Mahmud was quoted as saying by the private UNB news agency.

He said the government would take steps on emergency basis to resolve the maritime boundary issues with India and Myanmar and on enhancing trade cooperation with eastern countries.

About another Indian demand for return of ULFA militants, he said a decision on ULFA operatives in this country and Bangladeshi terrorists arrested in India would be taken “on the basis of bilateral discussion.”

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