Agartala, Oct. 9: Industrialists in Bangladesh have expressed a keen to invest in the textile sector in Tripura by utilising the natural gas available in the state.

The visiting deputy high commissioner of India in Bangladesh, Sandipan Chakraborty, briefed chief minister Manik Sarkar about this last night. Chakraborty who returned to Dhaka today after a four-day visit told the chief minister that investors from Bangladesh were keen to set up industries in Tripura in view of the state’s huge reserve of natural gas and its emergence as a power-surplus state.

“I have informed the chief minister that since the textile sector in Bangladesh is strong, New Delhi India will give preferential treatment to that sector while considering Bangla-desh’s investment in Tripura,” Chakraborty said yesterday.

Chakraborty discussed with the chief minister the progress of the Palatana thermal power plant, the second unit of which is likely to be commissioned by the end of this year, the proposed construction of a bridge across river Pheni in Sabroom subdivision of South Tripura to connect with Chittaong port and the 15km Agartala-Akhaura railway project.

“I have brought to the notice of the chief minister the issues related to the Agartala-Akhaura railway line and the bridge across river Pheni, both of which will be financed by the Centre. The chief minister has promised that the government would co-operate in all the aspects.”

During his visit, Chakraborty went to Palatana in South Tripura and apprised himself of the progress in the work to commission the 363.3MW second unit. He also visited the Sabroom subdivisional town to see the progress being made in construction of the bridge across the Pheni.

Sources said Bangladesh government might consider extending SEZ facilities to Indian industries for investment in that country. Chakraborty had said the Bangladesh government was keen to settle the dispute over sharing of Teesta river water and exchange of enclaves.

“If these issues are settled satisfactorily and the ongoing projects like Agartala-Akhaura railway linkage and bridge across Pheni are completed soon, Bangladesh will also extend greater facilities to Indian industrialists for investment in Bangladesh,” he told the chief minister.