Press conference demanding introduction of visa at Banglabandha land port

Al Masud, Panchagarh: Businessmen have held press conferences demanding introduction of Indian visa on Banglabandha in Panchagarh and Phulbari immigration route in India. The press conference was organized by the Banglabandha Land Port Import and Export Group at the Panchagarh Chamber of Commerce building on Sunday (June 26) at noon. General Secretary Kudrati-Khuda-Milon read out a written statement at a press conference chaired by the president of the organization Abdul Latif Tarin. At that time, Kudrati-Khuda-Milon said in a written statement that immigration check post was introduced in Banglabandha land port in 2016. When the Indian embassy started issuing visas on the Phulbari route, business as well as travel with India started. But in 2019, foreign nationals were barred from traveling to India to prevent Kovit 19 infection. As corona infection declined, the Indian government began issuing visas on various routes in phases in early 2021. They started issuing all kinds of visas from last March. But the passengers from India, Nepal and Bhutan are facing problems with the visa route. Speakers said Indian visas are not being issued on the Phulbari land port route of India associated with this land port. So even if they can enter India through other land ports of the country, Bangladeshis cannot go through Banglabandha. Through this immigration, Bangladeshi students, patients, businessmen and tourists travel to India, Nepal and Bhutan. Thousands of people, including locals, are facing problems due to non-issuance of visas on this route. Before Corona, thousands of people used to travel on this route every day to various tourist areas in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Darjeeling, Sikkim in India. Many traveled to India for medical and business purposes. But Bangladeshis are facing various problems due to non-issuance of visa. Traders in particular are in crisis. They called for issuing visas through Phulbari port as soon as possible. They sought the intervention of the Prime Minister in this regard. President of Panchagarh Chamber of Commerce Sharif Hossain, former president Abdul Hannan Sheikh, general secretary of District Shilpakala Academy Abu Toabur Rahman and other journalists of various print, electronic and television media working in Panchagarh district were present at the press conference.