Railway ministers of Bangladesh and India yesterday laid the foundation stone of the 15km broad gauge rail link between Agartala and Akhaura, giving a boost to connectivity between the two countries.

Bangladesh Railways Minister Md Mazibul Hoque and his Indian counterpart Suresh Prabhu laid the foundation stone for the much-awaited railway track.

Addressing a function on the occasion, Prabhu said the rail link between Agartala and Akhaura is strategic in nature and would not only benefit northeastern states of India but would be part of trans-Asian rail connectivity.

The agreement between the two countries on the rail link was signed during Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to New Delhi in January 2010.

"We are committed to better connectivity with Bangladesh. The relations between India and Bangladesh are very cordial and they (Bangladesh) are cooperative in our initiative," Prabhu said.

The rail track would be extended to Sabroom, the southern-most town in Tripura, which is only 75 km from Chittagong port in Bangladesh, he said.

"Chittagong port is the best port in Asia. We want to connect Indian railways track with Chittagong port through Sabroom."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very keen to make northeast region a tourist hub, Prabhu said.

“We want to develop railway network in the entire northeast India and want to make it a tourist hub. We want to bring Bangladesh also into the same tourist circuit."

Speaking at the function, Md Mazibul Hoque said: "We always respect the people of India for giving us support and shelter during our Liberation War. We want people-to-people contact.”

Bangladesh has decided to launch a new train between Khulna and Kolkata in addition to the Maitri Express train that run between Dhaka and Kolkata, the minister said. Hoque also sought India's help to combat terrorism. “It is a global phenomenon and we (Bangladesh) seek India's active cooperation in combating terrorism."

All northeast Indian state capitals will be linked with railways by 2020 and work is already on in Manipur, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh, said Rajen Gohain, India's minister of state for railways.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and members of his cabinet were present at the programme. Acquisition of land for the Agartala-Akhaura rail link has already started and the laying of the 15.054km rail track will be completed by 2017.

Of the total track, only 5km will be on the Indian side and the rest in Bangladesh.