Process of reopening Mogalhat land port underway

The process of reopening a defunct customs station and immigration checkpost on the Bangladesh-India border in Lalmonirhat has been underway since September this year, said Shahriar Alam, state minister for foreign affairs, yesterday.

Mogalhat, a border railway station situated in a village of the same name under Lalmonirhat sadar upazila, has been out of commission ever since immigration activities were halted in 2002.

Now though, various government bodies, such as the commerce and shipping ministries, are involved in reopening the land port, he added.

Alam made these comments during his reception ceremony at the conference room of the Lalmonirhat Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Members of the trade body and local government officials jointly hosted the state minister.

"The Mogalhat land port is needed by businessmen of Cooch Behar district of West Bengal in India as well as those here in Lalmonirhat," he said.

Alam then suggested that businesspeople from both countries should hold more meeting with each other to discuss trade related issues.

However, the level of erosion and current in Dharla river need to be checked before reopening the route, he added. Sheikh Abdul Hamid, president of the Lalmonirhat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said trade with the Seven Sister states of India would accelerate if the Mogalhat route is reopened.

"We held several meetings with Indian businesspeople to this end and discussions are ongoing. Indian traders are more interested in reopening this route than we are," he added.

Hamid went on to say Mogalhat route was heavily trafficked until 1988, when it was partially closed after a portion of the bridge over Dharla River got damaged by floods.

Rezaul Karim Swapan, mayor of Lalmonirhat municipality, said if the Moghalhat land port route is reopened, there would be a big change in the local economy.