Bangladesh News Bangladesh - India Relation

[Isa Khan]

India's Ministry of Culture has claimed that the 'Tangail saree' originated in West Bengal, sparking outrage from netizens as the traditional tant saree is widely considered to have originated from Bangladesh's Tangail district.

"The Tangail saree, originating from West Bengal, is a traditional handwoven masterpiece. Renowned for its fine texture, vibrant colours, and intricate Jamdani motifs, it epitomises the region's rich cultural heritage," the ministry wrote in a post on Facebook on Thursday (1 February).

"Each Tangail saree is a testament to skilled craftsmanship, seamlessly weaving together tradition and elegance," it added.

The India's ministry's Facebook post on Friday stoked outrage among Bangladeshi netizens.

Some of them commented on the post that the fact that the word 'Tangail' itself originates from the name of the Tangail district of Bangladesh.

Some others commented that the Indian ministry might have got the saree's name wrong.

The Indian ministry's facebook post comes weeks after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in an X post, wrote,"Three handloom saree items of West Bengal, namely Tangail of Nadia and Purba Bardhaman, and Korial & Garad of Murshidabad and Birbhum, have been registered and recognized as GI products."

"I congratulate the artisans for their skills and achievements. We are proud of them. Our congratulations to them!!" she added.

Gazi Md Rezaul Karim, member (O&M) of the Bangladesh Handloom Board, told The Business Standard that Tangail saree is a Bangladeshi product. Claiming it originated in West Bengal is false.

However, he could not confirm if the board is aware of India's claim or the GI tag for the Tangail saree.

He added that there is an option to object against India's GI tag for the saree.

Bangladesh Handloom Board Chairman Md Mahmud Hossain and Md Ayub Ali, planning and implementation chief of the board, could not be reached over the phone for a comment on the matter.

The Tangail saree has a rich tradition and history, representing one of the oldest cottage industries in Bangladesh. Its weaving heritage can be traced back to the British period, with significant expansion occurring in the late nineteenth century.

Multiple communities in Bangladesh participate in the production of Tangail sarees, with the Basak community of Pathrail in Tangail being the oldest.

A large number of handloom artisans migrated from Bangladesh to India during the partition and the 1971 Liberation War. They settled in West Bengal, where they popularised this specific type of saree.

Indian ministry claims Tangail saree originated in West Bengal, sparking outrage among netizens

India's Ministry of Culture has claimed that the 'Tangail saree' originated in West Bengal, sparking outrage from netizens as the traditional tant saree is widely considered to have originated from Bangladesh's Tangail district. "The Tangail saree, originating from West Bengal, is a traditional...

www.tbsnews.net

 

[yf120]

India's Ministry of Culture has claimed that the 'Tangail saree' originated in West Bengal, sparking outrage from netizens as the traditional tant saree is widely considered to have originated from Bangladesh's Tangail district.

"The Tangail saree, originating from West Bengal, is a traditional handwoven masterpiece. Renowned for its fine texture, vibrant colours, and intricate Jamdani motifs, it epitomises the region's rich cultural heritage," the ministry wrote in a post on Facebook on Thursday (1 February).

"Each Tangail saree is a testament to skilled craftsmanship, seamlessly weaving together tradition and elegance," it added.

The India's ministry's Facebook post on Friday stoked outrage among Bangladeshi netizens.

Some of them commented on the post that the fact that the word 'Tangail' itself originates from the name of the Tangail district of Bangladesh.

Some others commented that the Indian ministry might have got the saree's name wrong.

The Indian ministry's facebook post comes weeks after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in an X post, wrote,"Three handloom saree items of West Bengal, namely Tangail of Nadia and Purba Bardhaman, and Korial & Garad of Murshidabad and Birbhum, have been registered and recognized as GI products."

"I congratulate the artisans for their skills and achievements. We are proud of them. Our congratulations to them!!" she added.

Gazi Md Rezaul Karim, member (O&M) of the Bangladesh Handloom Board, told The Business Standard that Tangail saree is a Bangladeshi product. Claiming it originated in West Bengal is false.

However, he could not confirm if the board is aware of India's claim or the GI tag for the Tangail saree.

He added that there is an option to object against India's GI tag for the saree.

Bangladesh Handloom Board Chairman Md Mahmud Hossain and Md Ayub Ali, planning and implementation chief of the board, could not be reached over the phone for a comment on the matter.

The Tangail saree has a rich tradition and history, representing one of the oldest cottage industries in Bangladesh. Its weaving heritage can be traced back to the British period, with significant expansion occurring in the late nineteenth century.

Multiple communities in Bangladesh participate in the production of Tangail sarees, with the Basak community of Pathrail in Tangail being the oldest.

A large number of handloom artisans migrated from Bangladesh to India during the partition and the 1971 Liberation War. They settled in West Bengal, where they popularised this specific type of saree.

Indian ministry claims Tangail saree originated in West Bengal, sparking outrage among netizens

India's Ministry of Culture has claimed that the 'Tangail saree' originated in West Bengal, sparking outrage from netizens as the traditional tant saree is widely considered to have originated from Bangladesh's Tangail district. "The Tangail saree, originating from West Bengal, is a traditional...

www.tbsnews.net

lol, check out the list, it's mind-boggling

 

[Isa Khan]

#IndianNavy's Mission Deployed warship & an LRMP responded to a piracy attack on MV Abdullah, a Bangladeshi-flagged vessel, whilst enroute from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates.

On receipt of intimation, the LRMP was immediately deployed & after locating the MV in evening of #12Mar 24, attempted to establish communication to ascertain status of ship's crew members. However, no response was received from the ship.

The Mission Deployed warship on #MaritimeSecurityOperations, which had also been diverted, intercepted the hijacked MV on the morning of #14Mar 24.

The safety of the MV's crew (all Bangladesh nationals) held hostage by the armed pirates was ascertained & the warship continued to maintain in close vicinity of the MV till its arrival in the territorial waters of Somalia.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1768587998873186713

 

[Isa Khan]

Highlights:

• Daily exports of 60-70 tonnes are making Bangladeshi brands a major player in the market
• Bangladeshi cement is used in government buildings and major projects like Agartala's flyover
• Exports are on the rise, with 22,000 tonnes shipped in FY 2022-23 and 11,000 tonnes so far this year
• There's potential to double exports if more Bangladeshi companies enter the market

---

Bangladeshi cement is becoming increasingly popular in Tripura, India, due to its low cost and high quality.

Currently, cement is the second-most exported product through the Akhaura land port in Brahmanbaria, with 60-70 tonnes being sent to Tripura daily. This has led Bangladeshi cement brands to establish a strong presence in Tripura's construction materials market.

Exporters believe there's a significant opportunity to increase Bangladesh's export earnings by capitalising on this growing demand.

Since 1994, the Akhaura land customs station has facilitated trade with India. Recognising its commercial importance, the port was established as a full-fledged operation in 2008. It primarily functions as an export-oriented port, with an average daily export value of $200,000 worth of goods like frozen fish, cement, plastic, furniture, and food products to India.

The demand for prominent Bangladeshi cement brands like Crown, Seven Rings, Fresh, Insee, Premier, and Shah Cement is flourishing in Tripura. According to Tripura businessmen, Bangladeshi cement is now being used in government buildings, private establishments, and even houses.

Tripura lacks its own cement factory, making Bangladeshi cement the go-to choice for construction projects. The relatively lower price and higher quality compared to Indian cement have further fuelled demand for it in Tripura's markets. Currently, export price per tonne of cement ranges from $79 to $86, depending on the brand.

According to Akhaura land customs station data, approximately 22,000 tonnes of cement were exported to India in fiscal year 2022-23, with an export value of around Tk18.5 crore. So far in the current fiscal year (2023-24), about 11,000 tonnes of cement have been exported to Tripura, with an export value of Tk10 crore.

Businessmen at the Akhaura land port acknowledge that cement from the Indian state of Meghalaya also reaches the Tripura market. However, Bangladeshi cement holds an edge due to its slightly lower price and established reputation for quality.

Currently, only five or six Bangladeshi companies are exporting cement. Businessmen believe that if other cement companies focus on marketing to expand their reach, cement exports through Akhaura could double, leading to a significant boost in the country's export earnings.

Rajib Uddin Bhuiyan, owner of the cement exporting company Suyeb Trade International, highlighted the impact of the pandemic on cement exports but expressed confidence in the current recovery.

He said, "Every day, five to six trucks of cement are exported to Tripura, with Crown and Seven Rings being the most popular brands. Our focus is on further increasing export quantities."

Priyanath Saha, who owns Tarakeshwar Enterprise, a distributor of Bangladeshi cement in Agartala, Tripura, pointed to the absence of a cement factory in Tripura and the high cost of importing cement from Meghalaya. He credited the lower price and consistent supply of Bangladeshi cement for its rising popularity.

It is notable that Crown cement was used in constructing Agartala's first and only flyover, and Bangladeshi cement has been supplied to various government establishments in the city. Priyanath Saha anticipates this demand to keep growing.

Shafikul Islam, general secretary of the Importers-Exporters Association of Akhaura land port, attributed the success of Bangladeshi cement to its high quality and competitive pricing. The absence of VAT on exports allows for lower export prices.

He mentioned ongoing discussions with Indian businessmen to explore further avenues for increasing cement exports. Shafikul Islam believes that effective marketing by other Bangladeshi cement companies has the potential to double export figures.

Md Kamrul Parvez, assistant revenue officer of Akhaura Land Customs Station, acknowledged a decline in imports from India compared to the previous fiscal year. He attributed this to the current economic recession and dollar crisis.

The government is advising and assisting businesses on focusing on increasing exports in response to this situation. The rise in cement exports reflects the success of these efforts. The customs office is expediting inspections and clearances for export trucks to facilitate the process, Kamrul Parvez said.

Bangladeshi cement gains strong foothold in Tripura market

Highlights: Daily exports of 60-70 tonnes are making Bangladeshi brands a major player in the market Bangladeshi cement is used in government buildings and major projects like Agartala's flyover Exports are on the rise, with 22,000 tonnes shipped in FY 2022-23 and 11,000 tonnes so far this year...

www.tbsnews.net

 

[yf120]

Fake news spreads of MV Abdullah being rescued by Indian Navy

On Saturday, some Indian media, including Indian Today, Indian Express, said that the hijacked Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah was rescued by the Indian Navy. However, there was no detailed description of this in the news

www.tbsnews.net

Dhaka prioritises crew safety, rejects EU-India military rescue for hijacked ship

The ship’s location remains unchanged off Somali coast

www.tbsnews.net

Video | Ships, Drones, Commandos: How Indian Navy Rescued Hijacked Vessel

In a daring 40-hour operation, the Indian Navy on Saturday coerced 35 Somali pirates to surrender and rescued 17 crew members held hostage on a hijacked ship, the Navy said in a statement. The rescued vessel carrying over 37,800 tonnes of cargo worth $ 1 million dollars will be brought back to...

www.ndtv.com

this should be in the world top 10 fake news of all time!

 

[Gessler]

Fake news spreads of MV Abdullah being rescued by Indian Navy

On Saturday, some Indian media, including Indian Today, Indian Express, said that the hijacked Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah was rescued by the Indian Navy. However, there was no detailed description of this in the news

www.tbsnews.net

Dhaka prioritises crew safety, rejects EU-India military rescue for hijacked ship

The ship’s location remains unchanged off Somali coast

www.tbsnews.net

Video | Ships, Drones, Commandos: How Indian Navy Rescued Hijacked Vessel

In a daring 40-hour operation, the Indian Navy on Saturday coerced 35 Somali pirates to surrender and rescued 17 crew members held hostage on a hijacked ship, the Navy said in a statement. The rescued vessel carrying over 37,800 tonnes of cargo worth $ 1 million dollars will be brought back to...

www.ndtv.com

this should be in the world top 10 fake news of all time!

The last link is regarding a rescue operation conducted on MV Ruen, not MV Abdullah.

The IN has only said it is following & tracking the situation of the Abdullah, but they haven't taken any kinetic actions yet (due to reasons mentioned in your second link I would presume). I guess some media outlets got carried away thinking IN actually went in.

 

[Isa Khan]

Fake news spreads of MV Abdullah being rescued by Indian Navy

On Saturday, some Indian media, including Indian Today, Indian Express, said that the hijacked Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah was rescued by the Indian Navy. However, there was no detailed description of this in the news

www.tbsnews.net

Dhaka prioritises crew safety, rejects EU-India military rescue for hijacked ship

The ship’s location remains unchanged off Somali coast

www.tbsnews.net

Video | Ships, Drones, Commandos: How Indian Navy Rescued Hijacked Vessel

In a daring 40-hour operation, the Indian Navy on Saturday coerced 35 Somali pirates to surrender and rescued 17 crew members held hostage on a hijacked ship, the Navy said in a statement. The rescued vessel carrying over 37,800 tonnes of cargo worth $ 1 million dollars will be brought back to...

www.ndtv.com

this should be in the world top 10 fake news of all time!

Why would they reject European-Indian assistance? Our navy/other agencies can't do anything here i think.

 

[yf120]

The last link is regarding a rescue operation conducted on MV Ruen, not MV Abdullah.

The IN has only said it is following & tracking the situation of the Abdullah, but they haven't taken any kinetic actions yet (due to reasons mentioned in your second link I would presume). I guess some media outlets got carried away thinking IN actually went in.

what the...bro i swear I saw the bangladesh ship news in this ndtv link when I opened it yesterday morning from a signal messenger group. Could they have edited it and if they do, then did it without any notice? problem is I should have checked before posted here, my lazy mind just copy pasted these after all day....anyways I think subconsciously this was probably also playing when I commented https://www.businessinsider.in/indi...-in-the-world-survey/articleshow/67868418.cms

and bruh I just simply googled, the news are still there in the front, ndtv probably fixed/removed/changed it checked these out, these not some small named media outlets

Navy rescues hijacked Bangladesh-flagged ship

A warship which was mission-deployed in the region on maritime security operations was then diverted to the location and it intercepted the hijacked merchant vessel on Thursday morning.

indianexpress.com

Indian Navy thwarts pirates' attack on Bangladeshi vessel near Somalia

Navy rescued sailors held hostage aboard the Bangladesh-flagged ship MV Abdullah, which had fallen into the hands of pirates in the Indian Ocean earlier this week.

www.indiatoday.in

Indian Navy Rescues Bangladeshi Ship Hijacked by Pirates - News18

The Indian Navy on Friday confirmed that the safety of the crew, held captive by armed pirates, had been ensured

www.news18.com

I see they have twisted this news https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/341936/indian-navy-releases-pictures-of-armed-somali which is I think for some political reasons

 

[yf120]

Why would they reject European-Indian assistance? Our navy/other agencies can't do anything here i think.

probably this steel company has profited or ripped off too much money all these years and now paying this sum of ransom doesnt matter to them lol

 

[dronie]

what the...bro i swear I saw the bangladesh ship news in this ndtv link when I opened it yesterday morning from a signal messenger group. Could they have edited it and if they do, then did it without any notice? problem is I should have checked before posted here, my lazy mind just copy pasted these after all day....anyways I think subconsciously this was probably also playing when I commented https://www.businessinsider.in/indi...-in-the-world-survey/articleshow/67868418.cms

and bruh I just simply googled, the news are still there in the front, ndtv probably fixed/removed/changed it checked these out, these not some small named media outlets

Navy rescues hijacked Bangladesh-flagged ship

A warship which was mission-deployed in the region on maritime security operations was then diverted to the location and it intercepted the hijacked merchant vessel on Thursday morning.

indianexpress.com

Indian Navy thwarts pirates' attack on Bangladeshi vessel near Somalia

Navy rescued sailors held hostage aboard the Bangladesh-flagged ship MV Abdullah, which had fallen into the hands of pirates in the Indian Ocean earlier this week.

www.indiatoday.in

Indian Navy Rescues Bangladeshi Ship Hijacked by Pirates - News18

The Indian Navy on Friday confirmed that the safety of the crew, held captive by armed pirates, had been ensured

www.news18.com

I see they have twisted this news https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/341936/indian-navy-releases-pictures-of-armed-somali which is I think for some political reasons

The hijacked Bangladeshi crewed ship was intercepted by the indian navy just a day before the whole MV ruen saga and media got it fumbled up as usual when running to cover the story up front. If the company agreed IN would have saved the crew. Instead they are now giving upto the pirate demands and giving them ransom which in turn is gonna encourage more ship hijackings by the pirates.

 

[yf120]

The hijacked Bangladeshi crewed ship was intercepted by the indian navy just a day before the whole MV ruen saga and media got it fumbled up as usual when running to cover the story up front. If the company agreed IN would have saved the crew. Instead they are now giving upto the pirate demands and giving them ransom which in turn is gonna encourage more ship hijackings by the pirates.

I dont get what you are trying but, the fact remains that its a fake news...Ndtv at least edited their news but the majority others did not yet so, this actually can be considered fake news/misinformation/disinformation.

probably this steel company has profited or ripped off too much money all these years and now paying this sum of ransom doesnt matter to them lol

EDIT: *Shipping, not steel.

 

[Nilgiri]

I dont get what you are trying but, the fact remains that its a fake news...Ndtv at least edited their news but the majority others did not yet so, this actually can be considered fake news/misinformation/disinformation.



EDIT: *Shipping, not steel.

One news group probably jumped the gun and everyone else was syndicated to it etc. Its a news cycle situation out there security wise and Indian media operates in ad hoc way on lot of things.

 

[Isa Khan]

In a landmark development, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has successfully reclaimed 91 bighas of land along the Jagdal and Beurajhari borders in Ranishankail upazila, Thakurgaon district, marking the end of 70 years under Indian control.

Lt Col Tanjir Ahmed, commander of BGB's 50th Battalion in Thakurgaon, officially confirmed the development on Tuesday, symbolizing the reclaimed territory by hoisting a white flag.

The retrieval was the culmination of a diplomatic and procedural engagement between Bangladesh and India, starting with a formal request by BGB for a land survey.

"This achievement stemmed from our initial identification of certain areas along the Jagdal and Beurajhari borders as rightfully belonging to Bangladesh. Following our appeal, a joint BGB and BSF (Border Security Force) survey corroborated our stance, leading to the restoration of these lands to Bangladesh," explained Lt Col Tanjir.

The community along the borders has expressed immense joy over the return of the 91 bighas, which have now been recorded in the government's official land documents (khas khatian).

The breakdown of the recovered land includes about 15 bighas in the Jagdal BOP (Border Outpost) area and approximately 76 bighas in the Beurajhari BOP area.

Notably, 77 bighas of the land are arable, with 11 bighas comprising tea gardens and the remaining three bighas being river chars (riverine islands).

The conclusive joint survey, conducted on March 6 and 7 by the assistant survey and charge officer of Bangladesh Land Record and Survey Department alongside the Indian Survey Department's assistant charge officer, not only affirmed the 91 bighas for Bangladesh but also recognized 23.5 bighas of land to be in India's favour.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/foreign-affairs/343789/bangladesh-reclaims-91-bighas-of-land-from-india

 

[Isa Khan]

Bangladesh Railway will purchase 200 broad gauge passenger carriages from neighbouring India to provide modern, safe, and comfortable services to its passengers.

To this end, a Tk1,205.54 crore agreement was signed yesterday between the Bangladesh Railway and the Indian company RITES Limited at the railway building in the capital.

The European Investment Bank and the Bangladesh government jointly will finance the passenger carriages procurement project.

According to the agreement, delivery of the carriages will begin within 20 months, and all 200 carriages are to be delivered within 36 months. The coaches will feature stainless steel construction, high-speed bogies, roof-mounted AC systems, automatic air brake systems, and environmentally friendly designs.

Meanwhile, the contract was signed after a two-year delay, as the project was initiated in 2022. The project period started on 1 July 2022 and will run until 30 June 2026.

Regarding the delay, Project Director Md Zaidul Islam told TBS that the delay was primarily due to difficulties in finding and appointing consultants for the project.

Sources at the railways said the project aims to provide modern, safe, and comfortable services to passengers by increasing the availability of carriages, operating trains on new routes to meet rising passenger demand, replacing outdated carriages, and boosting the revenue of railways.

At the signing ceremony, Railway Minister Md Zillul Hakim emphasised the urgency of receiving the carriages on time.

He noted that although the agreement did not specify exact delivery dates, timely provision of carriages would facilitate planning and operations.

He expressed a preference for receiving two sets of carriages within the next two months, with the rest to follow as scheduled.

The minister also lamented the slow pace of railway officials, highlighting the need for more passenger carriages.

"The recent establishment of rail connectivity in the country's southern part is improving communication between southern districts and Dhaka. These new passenger carriages will further improve rail connectivity," Railway Secretary Humayun Kabir said.

Sardar Shahadat Ali, director general of Bangladesh Railway, said the railway aims to expand its communication network, establish connections across various regions of the country, and enhance passenger services. The project will significantly contribute to achieving these goals.

Railway to buy 200 passenger carriages from India for Tk1205.54cr

Under the agreement, all carriages are to be delivered within 36 months

www.tbsnews.net

 

[Isa Khan]

Indian Railways aims to connect the North East with the rest of the country through Bangladesh and Nepal, reducing travel time to the region, according to government sources.

These routes will bypass the 'Chicken Neck' region in the Siliguri area of West Bengal. The Railway Board has sanctioned a Final Location Survey (FLS) for approximately 1275.50 km, reports The Hindu BusinessLine.

"FLS for 14 new railway connectivity routes connecting Bangladesh, Nepal, and alternate routes towards the North-East have been sanctioned," an official in the Railway Ministry stated.

The survey includes around 500 km of new railway lines connecting Bangladesh and about 367 km of gauge conversion. In Nepal, over 200 km of new lines will be laid, while in the North East, another 212 km of lines will be constructed.

Segment-wise break-up

Nearly 250 km of new lines will be constructed along the West Bengal–Bangladesh–Meghalaya route, covering the Balurghat–Hili–Gaibandha–Mahendraganj–Tura–Mendipathar segment. Additionally, two sections of the West Bengal–Bangladesh route will see the construction of 80 km and 60 km of new railway lines, respectively.

In another segment connecting West Bengal to Assam via Bamanhat in Bangladesh, 38 km of new railway lines will be laid. For the Balurghat–Hili–Parbatipur–Kaunia–Lalmanirhat–Mogalhat–Gitaldaha section, an existing India–Bangladesh trade route, 18 km of new lines will be constructed.

The proposed Belonia–Feni–Chottogram trade route will feature 38 km of new railway lines.

Gauge conversion will take place in all these sections. Other significant segments include two West Bengal–Bangladesh–Tripura routes: the Gede–Darsana–Akhaura–Agartala route will require 100 km of gauge conversion, and the Petrapole–Benapole–Nabharon–Jessore–Rupdia–Padmabila–Lohagara–Kashiani–Shibchar–Mawa–Nimtala–Gendaria–Dhaka–Tongi–Bhairab Bazar–Akhaura–Agartala route will require 120 km of gauge conversion.

Other new routes

Improved connectivity between India and Nepal will include the construction of 190 km of new lines between Biratnagar and New Mal, along with 12.5 km of new lines in the Galgalia–Bhadrapur–Kajali Bazar section, according to a source.

In West Bengal, 170 km of new railway lines will be constructed in the Kumedpur–Ambari Falakata segment to improve connectivity in the Chicken Neck region. In Bihar's Purnea district, around Forbesganj, 18 km of new tracks will be laid to enhance connectivity to Bangladesh's Lakshamipur. Additionally, 25 km of new lines will be built to improve connectivity between Bengal and Bihar through the Chicken Neck region.

"These projects will speed up trade connectivity and enhance passenger services in the region," said a Railway official.

Indian Railways pushes North-East connectivity via Bangladesh and Nepal

Indian Railways aims to connect the North East with the rest of the country through Bangladesh and Nepal, reducing travel time to the region, according to government sources. These routes will bypass the 'Chicken Neck' region in the Siliguri area of West Bengal.

www.tbsnews.net

 

[Saithan]

Indian Railways aims to connect the North East with the rest of the country through Bangladesh and Nepal, reducing travel time to the region, according to government sources.

These routes will bypass the 'Chicken Neck' region in the Siliguri area of West Bengal. The Railway Board has sanctioned a Final Location Survey (FLS) for approximately 1275.50 km, reports The Hindu BusinessLine.

"FLS for 14 new railway connectivity routes connecting Bangladesh, Nepal, and alternate routes towards the North-East have been sanctioned," an official in the Railway Ministry stated.

The survey includes around 500 km of new railway lines connecting Bangladesh and about 367 km of gauge conversion. In Nepal, over 200 km of new lines will be laid, while in the North East, another 212 km of lines will be constructed.

Segment-wise break-up

Nearly 250 km of new lines will be constructed along the West Bengal–Bangladesh–Meghalaya route, covering the Balurghat–Hili–Gaibandha–Mahendraganj–Tura–Mendipathar segment. Additionally, two sections of the West Bengal–Bangladesh route will see the construction of 80 km and 60 km of new railway lines, respectively.

In another segment connecting West Bengal to Assam via Bamanhat in Bangladesh, 38 km of new railway lines will be laid. For the Balurghat–Hili–Parbatipur–Kaunia–Lalmanirhat–Mogalhat–Gitaldaha section, an existing India–Bangladesh trade route, 18 km of new lines will be constructed.

The proposed Belonia–Feni–Chottogram trade route will feature 38 km of new railway lines.

Gauge conversion will take place in all these sections. Other significant segments include two West Bengal–Bangladesh–Tripura routes: the Gede–Darsana–Akhaura–Agartala route will require 100 km of gauge conversion, and the Petrapole–Benapole–Nabharon–Jessore–Rupdia–Padmabila–Lohagara–Kashiani–Shibchar–Mawa–Nimtala–Gendaria–Dhaka–Tongi–Bhairab Bazar–Akhaura–Agartala route will require 120 km of gauge conversion.

Other new routes

Improved connectivity between India and Nepal will include the construction of 190 km of new lines between Biratnagar and New Mal, along with 12.5 km of new lines in the Galgalia–Bhadrapur–Kajali Bazar section, according to a source.

In West Bengal, 170 km of new railway lines will be constructed in the Kumedpur–Ambari Falakata segment to improve connectivity in the Chicken Neck region. In Bihar's Purnea district, around Forbesganj, 18 km of new tracks will be laid to enhance connectivity to Bangladesh's Lakshamipur. Additionally, 25 km of new lines will be built to improve connectivity between Bengal and Bihar through the Chicken Neck region.

"These projects will speed up trade connectivity and enhance passenger services in the region," said a Railway official.

Indian Railways pushes North-East connectivity via Bangladesh and Nepal

Indian Railways aims to connect the North East with the rest of the country through Bangladesh and Nepal, reducing travel time to the region, according to government sources. These routes will bypass the 'Chicken Neck' region in the Siliguri area of West Bengal.

www.tbsnews.net

Is there a drawing or map showing where the railways going to be ? For people who aren't familiar with the places/region.

 

[Isa Khan]

Seven new MoUs

The seven new MoUs include MoU on the Field of Blue Economy and Maritime Cooperation in the Bay of Bengal and India Ocean Region; MoU between Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of India for Joint Research on Oceanography of the Indian Ocean and Capacity Building; MoU on Rail Connectivity; and two separate shared vision of India Bangladesh Digital Partnership and shared vision of India Bangladesh Green Partnership for a Sustainable Future.

Besides, MoU between Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACE) and Department of Space, Government of the Republic of India and Ministry of Posts, Telecommunication and Information Technology, Government of Bangladesh was also signed for Collaboration on a Joint Small Satellite Project.

A MoU between DSSC, Wellington and DSCSC Mirpur for cooperation concerning military education in the field of strategic and operational studies was also signed.

Three MoUs related to cooperation in the field of fisheries, disaster management; and health and medicine were also renewed.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/foreign-affairs/349926/bangladesh-india-sign-10-deals

 

[Afif]

Keeping Bengal out of Teesta talks not acceptable: CM Mamata writes to PM Modi

In third letter to the Prime Minister in a week, Mamata Banerjee said friendship with Bangladesh would not come at the cost of Bengal’s interests.

indianexpress.com

I have a feeling this vile women is gonna make life miserable for lots of Bangladeshi when Ganga treaty expire.

 

[PutinBro]

BD should go for the Chinese proposal.BJP will never be able to win in WB as long as she's alive hence no solution from India.

 

[Afif]

Bangladesh will jointly build a satellite with India: Palak - Views Bangladesh

State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak has said that Bangladesh will jointly build a small satellite with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). He revealed the information while talking to reporters after a courtesy meeting with...

viewsbangladesh.com

@Nilgiri