Tuesday, December 21 2004 13:13 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Agartala: Dhaka has okayed issuance of double entry visa for Indians, facilitating movement of the people of landlocked Tripura to other parts of the country through Bangladesh.

Sajjad Taimur, First Secretary of Bangladesh Visa Office in Agartala, told reporters today (Dec 21, 2004) that he received the nod of his country for issuing double entry visa for Indians.

The people of Tripura had long been demanding a transit through Bangladesh for reaching Kolkata, the nearest metropolis, by road within a day as it takes about three days through Assam. The only other way to reach Kolkata from here is to take a flight.

With a double entry visa, Taimur said, ''An Indian can stay in our country for seven days and within that time he or she has to enter into Indian Territory by another side of the country''.

It would take about 12 hours to reach Kolkata by bus from Agartala via Dhaka, he said adding the fare would be Rs 1,000. The airfare for a single journey is Rs 3,000.

From Agartala, Dhaka is just a three-hour drive and from the Bangladesh capital, Kolkata can be reached in nine hours.

Dhaka-Agartala bus service was introduced in September 2003, while Dhaka-Kolkata bus service had started earlier.

Transport Minister Manik Dey said the Tripura Road Transport Corporation and Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) should find out if a direct bus can from Agartala to Kolkata via Bangladesh or how a connecting service can be introduced.