NEW DELHI: India and Bangladesh issued a 50-point statement here today, agreeing to upgrade road connectivity and trade infrastructure along the Indo-Bangla border, which will also help boost Nepal's trade with Bangladesh and other countries. 'It was agreed that Bangladesh will allow use of Mongla and Chittagong sea ports for movement of goods to and from India through road and rail. Bangladesh also conveyed their intention to give Nepal and Bhutan access to Mongla and Chittagong ports,' the joint statement said. Bangladeshi Prime Minister also agreed that the Rohanpur-Singabad broad gauge railway link would be available for transit to Nepal. Bangladesh informed of its intention to convert the Radhikapur-Birol railway line into broad gauge and requested a railway transit link to Bhutan. It was agreed that trucks moving from Bhutan and Nepal will be allowed to enter about 200 metres into Zero Point at the Banglabandh-Phulbari land customs station. Necessary arrangements shall be mutually agreed upon and put in place by both the countries, according to the joint statement. This provision will enable Nepali businesses to directly take their Bangladesh-bound goods up to the border points of Bangladesh without unloading their goods at the Indian border, said Kedar Bahadur Adhikari, Economic Councilor, Embassy of Nepal. It was agreed that the construction of the proposed Akhaura-Agartala railway link will be financed by grant from India. This railway link is expected to enable Indian businesses to export and import their goods to and from Myanmar and China. Abdul Maltus Ahmad, President, Bangladesh-India Chambers of Commerce, said these measures could save business cost by more than 20 per cent as they enable the passage of goods in quickest possible time. According to Ahmad, the new measures could also enable Nepalese and Bangladeshi business communities to do their business without having to face congestion at Kolkata port. With the availability of Bangladesh's Mongla and Chittagong ports, Nepal could have trade with other third countries more efficiently and cheaply, according to Ahmad. 'These new measures will enhance Nepal's trade with Bangladesh significantly,' said Adhikari. Also agreed was the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers and port restrictions and facilitation of movement of containerised cargo by rail and water. 'In this context, Bangladesh welcomed India's initiative to provide duty-free access to SAARC LDCs to the Indian market,' the joint statement said.