Talks today to start bus service between Dahagram, mainland
A three-wheeler carries passengers from Dahagram-Angorpota enclave to the mainland through Tin Bigha corridor. Bus service between the enclave and the mainland is likely to be introduced very soon. Photo: STAR
Officials of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Indian Security Force (BSF) will hold a meeting at Tin Bigha Corridor today to discuss introduction of passenger bus service between Dahagram-Angorpota enclave and the mainland. Commanding Officer (CO) of 31 BGB Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Aslam Hossain yesterday told this correspondent that some enclave issues including introduction of bus service would come up for discussion at today's sector commander level meeting. “We have already exchanged views with BSF officials on the issue. I hope the people of Dahagram-Angorpota enclave will soon get bus service facility to travel to and from the mainland through Tin Bigha Corridor,” the BGB official said. The enclave people go to the mainland, 14 kilometres off the enclave, in auto-rickshaw or rickshaw-van. They need bus service for safe journey. “We want regular bus service between the enclave and the mainland to reduce transport cost as we have to pay Tk 30 to 40 each for only 14-kmkilometre journey,” said a resident. Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) launched its two buses for enclave people in March this year. But the service came to halt after seven days as Indian Border Security Force (BSF) imposed restriction on running the buses through Tin Bigha Corridor, showing national security reasons. Mahbub Hossain, 45, a resident of Bongrebari village in the enclave, said “We have no other alternative but to depend on auto-rickshaw and rickshaw van to communicate with Patgram upazila headquarters. If bus service is introduced, we can go to the mainland at a minimum transport cost", he added. Reza Islam, 50, headmaster of Dahagram Primary School, said they have been demanding regular bus service between the enclave and Patgram upazila headquarters for long. Bus service will ensure safe journey of the enclave people and help them join their workplaces in the mainland in time, the headmaster added. Patgram Upazila Parishad Chairman Ruhul Amin Babul said the restriction on running bus through Tin Bigha Corridor will go after talks between BGB and BSF. He hopes that the enclave people will get bus service facility in a couple of days.
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