Mogholhat port shut for 21 years

The government should hold bilateral talks with neighbouring India to reopen the Mogholhat land port and customs check post to boost trade between the two countries.

People from all walks of life under the banner of 'Mogholhat Land Port Bastabayan Sangram Committee' urged the government at a human chain at Nuruldin Mancho in Lalmonirhat's Sadar upazila on Friday.

Speakers at the rally said the socio-economic status of the people living in the area was much stronger when the port was functional, adding that now it looks gloomy as a good number of locals remain unemployed due to the situation.

They said Mogholhat land port became inoperative when the Indian government took a unilateral decision to close their customs office at Gidaldah in Cooch Behar district in India in 1996.

Following India's decision, the Bangladesh government also closed its customs check post and other activities at the port the same year.

Abu Taiyab, general secretary of the Sangram Committee, said Mogholhat-Gidaldah route is the easiest way to travel to Bhutan and India's West Bengal and Assam. “If the government takes necessary step to reopen the port it would become a source of job opportunities for many locals,” he added.

Local lawmaker Abu Saleh Md Sayeed Dulal said the matter has already been placed to the ministry concerned.

After discussing with India, the government will take necessary steps to reopen the port soon, he added.