Calcutta-Dhaka Bus Seems all set to roll out by January.

by Special Correspondent

The BJP-led government at the Centre appears to have virtually shelved the policy of ‘enlightened neighbourhood’ introduced by the former United Front Prime Minister , Mr I.K.Gujralfor developing closer relations with India’s neighbours such as Bangladesh, Bhutan , Nepal and definitely with Pakistan . Though the Vajpayee government periodically makes its intentions public about improving relations with Pakistan, sustained efforts by the Centre to interact with Bangladesh, Bhutan or Nepal are conspicuous absent although the United Front Government successfully resolved the vexed issue of sharing the Ganga waters by signing an agreement with Bangladesh and came to an understanding with the Hasina Government on stopping the training of extremists through diplomatic and other means. Even West Bengal Chief Minister , Jyoti Basu, played a significant role in signing of the agreement on water –sharing. An agreement was signed with Nepal too as India provided a corridor offering transit facilities via Siliguri to goods trucks from Nepal entering Bangladesh. Requested by the then central Government Jyoti Basu even made his contributions in resolving the problems of the Bhutanese refugees in India. The issue of introduction of a bus service between India and Bangladesh was taken up in right earnest about a year ago too but nothing concrete has emerged as yet.

Basu has again written to the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee requesting him to conclude the formalities so that the service could be inaugurated on the next Republic Day.

In his letter to Mr. Vajpayee, Basu said discussion had been underway with the Bangladesh government since June 1977 for arriving at an agreement between the two countries for the regulation of inter-country motor vehicles traffic. A team of government officials from India had visited Dhaka in September , 1977 but the agreement could not be finalized then due to some unavoidable reasons . It was then agreed that a further round of discussions would take place in India.

Unfortunately , the final round of discussions and signing of the protocol were still to take place though from the side of the Government of West Bengal consent had been given regarding taxation proposals and other formalities. Basu requested Mr Vajpayee to kindly have all formalities to sign the agreement expedited so that the Calcutta-Dhaka bus service started without further delay. Basu requested Mr Vajpayee to kindly look in to the matter so that the service could be inaugurated on the next Republic Day, i.e.January 26 ,1999 on completion of all formalities.