Date: 23.02.10
Source: The Daily Star

 

Dahogram Angarpota

 

 

Bss, Rangpur

 

India and Bangladesh yesterday agreed to install underground electric cables through the Tinbigha Corridor from March 1 for power supply to Dahogram and Angarpota under Patgram upazila in Lalmonirhat district.

 

The agreement was reached at a District Magistrate level meeting between the two countries near Tinbigha Corridor inside India at the initiative of the Indian government.

 

A private business firm of Bangladesh will set up the cable network, engaging 30 workers for two days and 21 daily basis workers for the remaining days to complete the works by March 16.

 

"If required, the installation of the cables might be continued till March 20," an official told BSS after the meeting.

 

Earlier, as per directions of the two governments, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) coordinated the initiative for supplying electricity to Dahogram and Angarpota, he said.

 

District Magistrate (DM) and Deputy Commissioner of Lalmonirhat Md Alauddin Fakir led the five-member Bangladesh delegation while DM of Koochbehar Sreemoti Mohapatra led the five-member Indian delegation in the meeting.

 

The meeting lasted for three and a half hours in a cordial environment.

 

The Indian side assured of extending all possible cooperation for reaching electricity to the people of Dahogram and Angarpota.

 

The Bangladesh delegation also proposed keeping the Tinbigha Corridor open round the clock, resolving the long-standing enclave issues and construction of a flyover by the Indian side on the corridor.

 

The Indian delegation appreciated the proposals and assured that those would be raised before the concerned higher Indian authorities for further steps.

 

Alauddin and Mohapatra briefed the local journalists after the meeting.

 

Talking to BSS, chairman of Dahogram-Angarpota union Saiful Islam expressed satisfaction over the decisions and congratulated both the governments for resolving the power supply issue.

 

Rangpur Sector Commander of BDR Colonel Mohammad Khairuzzaman told BSS that the inhabitants of Dahogram and Angarpota will now get electricity that will usher in a new era of sustainable developments there.

 

Presently, there is a health complex, a union parishad office, a high school, four government primary schools and some other installations in Dahogram and Angarpota, and activities of all of these institutions will soon get momentum, he added.

 

A number of Dahogram and Angarpota dwellers including youths and students yesterday congratulated the gesture of Indian government and termed it as a huge step forward towards cementing friendly ties further between the neighbours.

 

Commanding Officer of Lalmonirhat 31 Rifles Battalion of BDR Lt Col Aslam Hossain, Chief Engineer of PDB, Rangpur Abdul Hamid, his Executive Engineer Golam Mortuza and Assistant Commissioner Alam Hossain assisted the DM of Lalmonirhat.

 

The Indian DM was assisted by Commandant of 17 BSF Battalion Amit Kumar Tyagi, Additional DM KC Mandal, Mekhliganj Sub-Divisional Officer MN Das and Executive Engineer of Central Power and Works Department N Basu.

Send feedback:

Name:
E-mail:
Feedback: