Bhadrapur, Apr. 29: Ambassador of Bangladesh Cyril Sikder has said that Bangladesh has attached great importance to optimum utilization of the Phulbari-Banglabandh Transit Route opened two years back for promoting trade and economic relations between Nepal and Bangladesh.

Talking to rss correspondent Somnath Lamichhane at Bhadrapur Airport today, ambassador Sikder said despite the great importance of the Kakarvitta-Phulbari-Banglabandh Route in promoting trade relations between Nepal and Bangladesh, the route has not been utilized to the fullest extent so far for several reasons.

Disclosing that an agreement will be signed between the two countries to resolve the problems facing proper utilization of the route during the visit by the minister for trade and commerce of Bangladesh to Nepal next month, the Bangladesh envoy said he made this field study and has also been talking to trade and industry people with a view to making the agreement more effective.

This is high time both Nepal and Bangladesh reviewed the bilateral trade and transit treaties signed two years back to make them more practical and simple, he said, adding both countries are doing necessary homework in this regard.

Mr Sikder also said that he is going to submit a report to the government of Bangladesh after looking into the possibility of operating air cargo flight between Saichadpur of Bangladesh and Bhadrapur. If found feasible, the plan will be incorporated in a transport model agreement to be concluded next month, he added.

Also today, the Bangladesh envoy visited Bhadrapur Airport and Mechi customs office and acquired necessary information.

The Phulbari-Banglabandh route opened in 2054 is a crucial route providing Nepal an overland access to a third country.

Problems like lack of proper road, communications and customs facilities, hassles in Indian side, and inconvenience caused by the provision for labourers and truck drivers to produce passports and identity cards have been an obstacle to proper utilization of the route. And the government of Bangladesh also has not so far taken much interest in developing necessary physical facilities.

According to chief of the Mechi Customs Office Dipak Kharel, Nepalese products equivalent to Rs. 59.8 million were exported to Bangladesh through the route during the last fiscal year.

The volume of exports to Bangladesh declined in fiscal year 2056/057. The exports have amounted to about Rs. 24.8 million so far in the current fiscal year.