High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami has said that sub-region connectivity is in the interests of all countries in the sub-region. Speaking to a prominent local daily of Bangladesh, High Commissioner Doraiswami cited the World Bank study which projects that seamless connectivity between India and Bangladesh could boost its national income by 17 percent while India's national income would also rise by 8 percent and boost its export almost three times.<br />''<br />''Calling for opening up more land ports for unrestricted trade, the High Commissioner said that the monopoly of one border crossing for trade works as the biggest non-tariff barrier to trade on both sides. He said without opening more land ports to unrestricted trade, improving multi-modal connectivity using road, rail, and waterways, new customs facilities, warehouses, and ICD,  the two-way trade and investment will be limited.<br />''<br />''Speaking about connectivity between various countries in the sub-region, the High Commissioner pointed out that India is already providing rail transit to Nepal. India is also providing facilitation for goods trade between Nepal and Bangladesh and Bhutan and Bangladesh. However, the transshipment using Chattogram and Mongla ports is yet to take off through the trial run was conducted more than 18 months back and SoP finalized more than 2 years back.<br />''<br />''Highlighting the importance of rail connectivity, High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami said that it will be a game-changer for Bangladesh just as it is for the entire region. He said countries of the sub-region can look at connectivity for freight. The High Commissioner pointed out that India has offered the use of its inland waterways system up to Varanasi for use by Bangladesh which can help in trade using India-Nepal connectivity.  Using Bangladesh's extensive riverine network, India could also ship goods to Tripura and further afield from there. <br />