KOLKATA: A rally with 21 cars from Kolkata to Dhaka and other cities of Bangladesh to promote friendship, named “Moitree”, coinciding with Bangabandhu Sk Mujibur Rahman’s birth centenary celeb- rations, was turned back from the Benapole border on Sunday. The organisers, Automobile Association of Eastern India , have set up an “inquiry” into the incident. Armed with the required visa the rallyists crossed the Petrapole border on Sunday morning, only to be stopped at the Bangladesh end and told to return. Upset rallyists said they were told to return because of some “security issues” and “for lack of permission”. Nothing, however, was given in writing. The rally was supposed to move from Dhaka to Cox ’s Bazar, Chittagong, Mymensingh and Narayanganj, and re-enter Bengal at Siliguri, reports Jhimli Mukherjee Pandey.

Bangladesh deputy high commissioner in Kolkata, Toufique Hasan, told TOI via WhatsApp that while the intention of the rally was good, visas are given only for entry but a rally of this magnitude requires several other permissions from various Bangladeshi authorities.

