P.A. Sangma and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the meeting in Dhaka on Sunday. (PTI
Shillong, June 30 : Former Lok Sabha Speaker P.A. Sangma during his recent visit to Bangladesh stressed on a Look South policy, examining possible trade transactions with Bangladesh instead of the much-hyped Centre’s policy of Look East, which aims at business ties with Southeast Asian countries.
During his tour of the neighbouring country from June 18 to 25, he met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and discussed how a Look South Policy could be more viable for the Northeast rather than the present Look East Policy.
Sangma, in a statement issued here today, said though the Centre’s policy is Look East, as far as the Northeast in general and Meghalaya in particular is concerned, emphasis should be on Look South.
Besides Meghalaya, the Northeast states which share a border with Bangladesh are Assam, Tripura and Mizoram.
Though Meghalaya exports coal and limestone to Bangladesh, absence of good roads, rail, air and sea connectivity stand as hurdles for better trade ties.
Besides, there are no Bangladesh visa offices either in Shillong or Guwahati.
People from Assam and Meghalaya have to either travel to Agartala or Calcutta to obtain visa to travel to Bangladesh.
Though the Meghalaya government had proposed bus services from Shillong to Sylhet and another from Tura to Dhaka, this has not made any headway.
Sangma, who is also a legislator from Tura, took up various issues with Hasina.
One proposal Sangma wants Bangladesh to look into is the feasibility of connecting Dhaka and Tura using the ADB-funded Bangabandhu Bridge (Jamuna multi-purpose bridge).
It takes 1,600km to reach Guwahati from Dhaka, via Calcutta and Siliguri.
If the Bangabandhu Bridge is used, it will cut the distance by 700km for the Calcutta-Dhaka-Tura-Guwahati route.
Sangma also requested the Bangladesh Prime Minister to declare the ancient kingdom of erstwhile Jaintia Kings situated in Jaintiapur and currently in Sylhet district of Bangladesh to be preserved, protected and declared a national heritage site.
He also visited Chittagong and had a detailed discussion with officials of Chittagong Port Authority.
The officials said once the Chittagong Port was expanded — work for which was on in full swing — it would facilitate trade with the Northeast.