NEW DELHI, April 26: Bangladesh is denying India direct access to the north-eastern states, by not allowing rail or road passage through its land.Dhaka has resisted all Indian proposals for a rail link and a bus route to the seven states in the north-east passing through Bangladesh. A route through Bangladesh will be just one-third the distance of the circuitous route that buses have to take from Calcutta. The train journey if it passes through Bangladesh - will be a full 48 hours shorter.In fact, even the Calcutta-Dhaka bus was originally proposed by India to go on to Agartala (Tripura) and not be terminated at Dhaka itself. But Bangladesh put its foot down and said it would consider allowing passage up to Agartala only in the next phase. At present, a bus from Calcutta to Agartala has to go via KarSMALL>
