Bhutan consul meets Assam chief minister

March 10, 2010: In the wake Bhutan mulls over reviewing the travel advisory to Assam, the country’s Consul General in Kolkata, Tsering Wangda met Chief Minister of the Indian State Tarun Gogoi at the latter’s official residence on Tuesday.

Bhutan had issued travel advisory to its citizens in 2003 following anti-ULFA operation not to travel through Assam. The advisory has not been withdrawn but Bhutan has expressed its willingness to withdraw now.

The other issue discussed during the meeting was to express Bhutan’s interest to start flight operations with Assam on the Guwahati-Bhutan-Bangkok route and subsequently to be extended to Patna.

“There is a great degree of stability in Assam. As a result thousands of Bhutanese come everyday for doing business in Assam, especially in Chirang district. We want to foster our centuries-old relationship between the peoples of Bhutan and Assam. Therein lies our prosperity too,” Wangda said.

Wangda requested Gogoi for repairing 40-km stretch of road from Samthebari near Dhalgaon in Assam to Bhutan that will enable Bhutan to move goods at a faster level by cutting down huge business losses.

Wangdo also requested the Assam government chief to ensure excellent facilities in educational institutions for students coming from Bhutan.