Assam PWD Minister Ajanta Neog on Wednesday flagged-off the trial run of the bus service between Guwahati and Dhaka via Meghalaya.
The trial run, which saw the participation of 24 delegates including representatives from the Central Government, Government of Bangladesh and delegates of Assam and Meghalaya Governments, aims at assessing the route conditions, estimated time of the journey and to ascertain other technical parameters.
“Today is a historic day as Assam and Bangladesh have taken a step forward towards a new relationship. The regular bus service between Assam and Bangladesh will not only result in the better relationship between the neighbours but will promote and enhance trade and commerce,” she said while flagging-off the trial-run from the Inter-State Bus Terminus at Boragaon in Guwahati.
“The road between the Assam and Bangladesh was opened before Independence. However, it is a good sign that Assam and Bangladesh have realised the need to establish better relationship,” she said.
The trial run is expected to conclude at Dhaka on Friday and delegation is expected to submit the report on the details and feasibility of starting of the regular bus services.
This will be in addition to two passenger bus services to Dhaka already operating from Kolkata and Agartala. Negotiations with Bangladesh for starting the bus services from Guwahati and Shillong are underway from the past several months.
The proposed bus service, which will cover approximately 500 kms starting from Guwahati, will take the Shillong- Dawki (Meghalaya)-Tamabil (Bangladesh)-Sylhet-Dhaka route.
Joint Secretary (Home) of the Bangladesh Government Sheikh Abdul Ahad, expressed excitement on behalf of the neighbouring country and said that the bus service once launched regularly will open up new vistas of opportunities for both the contries.