New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart, Sheikh Hasina, jointly inaugurated the newly-constructed Petrapole Integrated Check Post, the biggest land port in South Asia, through a video-conference.
The video-conference was also joined by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Speaking in the programme, Modi said that, "Inauguration of Petrapole checkpost will not only promote bilateral trade but also help in economic growth of both countries. 8 such integrated check posts along Indo-Bangladesh border to be set up in times to come.
"PM also strongly condemned the recent terror attacks in Dhaka and Kishoreganj in Bangladesh and said that India is determined to fight terror alongside Bangladesh.
Petrapole-Benapole is an important land border crossing for India-Bangladesh trade as more than 50 percent of the India-Bangladesh trade passes through Petrapole.
Trade worth more than Rs. 15000 crore takes place through the checkpost, which is more than all the other Indian land ports and land customs stations put together.
The Petrapole ICP will provide better facilities for effective and efficient discharge of functions such as security, immigration, customs, quarantine, etc.
while also providing support facilities for smooth cross-border movement of persons, goods and transport. It will also serve to foster greater economic integration and connectivity between India and Bangladesh.
Petrapole ICP will be the second ICP on the India-Bangladesh border after the Agartala ICP at the Agartala-Akhaura land border.
