RCCI bids farewell to Indian AHC in Rangpur

Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) bade a farewell reception to the outgoing Assistant High Commissioner (AHC) of India in Rajshahi Sanjeev Kumar Bhati on Wednesday night.

The Indian envoy attended the function held at the RCCI auditorium as the chief guest with RCCI President Mostafa Sohrab Chowdhury Titu in the chair.

RCCI Senior Vice-president Md Azizul Islam Mintu and President of Rangpur City Awami League Shafiur Rahman Shafi were present as special guests.

On behalf of RCCI, its President and other leaders of the apex trade body of Rangpur handed over wreaths and a crest to the outgoing Indian envoy during the function.

Later, leaders and officials of RCCI, Clearing and Forwarding Agents Associations of Burimari and Sonahat Land Ports, Mahiganj Girls’ High School and College, Boro Rangpur Karamatia Kamil Madrasa, India-Bangladesh Maitree Complex and many other organizations presented a flower to the outgoing Indian envoy.

Incumbent and former Directors and General Members of RCCI, leaders of different trade bodies, exporters’ and importers’ organisations, civil society members, professionals and sociocultural personalities and journalists were present.

In his speech, Senior Vice-president of RCCI Md Azizul Islam Mintu lauded the role of Indian envoy Sanjeev Kumar Bhati in promoting public relations and the development of the Rangpur region with the Indian government’s assistance during his tenure.

Rangpur City Awami League President Shafiur Rahman Shafi recalled the all-out support extended by the Indian people and government to the people of struggling Bangladesh during the War of Liberation.

The RCCI President thanked the Indian envoy for his sincere efforts in assisting RCCI School and College, RCCI and other educational and religious institutions of the Rangpur division and promoting trade and business through the land ports in the division.

Expressing deep gratitude to the RCCI authority, the outgoing Indian envoy said he would remember the friendly people of the Rangpur division and Bangladesh as a whole throughout his lifetime.

“The friendly relations between India and Bangladesh are now at a newer height and Bangladesh is achieving rapid development in every sector,” he said, adding that the GDP of Bangladesh is ahead of the Indian GDP.

He said massive infrastructural developments are progressing in northern Bangladesh creating a real opportunity to increase India-Bangladesh trade by up to tenfold shortly.

“Rangpur division has the brightest prospect for enhancing bilateral trade and communications with India for having land ports at Hili, Biral, Banglabandha, Burimari, Sonahat and Roumari and water port at Chilmari and railway connectivity,” he said.