Gelephu BIFA members visit Assam
Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2006

Rural Development, Government of Assam, at his residence in Kazalgaon in Assam, the BIFA Vice Chairman told BT that Mr. Chandan Brahma has been the most significant figure behind the development and success of the local chapter of the association on both sides of the border.

The Minister had also been very instrumental in several friendship activities like cultural exchanges and friendly visits which had greatly strengthened the relationship between people of Gelephu and Assam, and the two countries at large.

A dance troupe, an archery and a football team visited Bogaigaon last year as part of the friendship activity. The members of the Indian local chapter of the friendship association also visited Sarpang and Gelephu recently.

“I will lead the friendship association and provide moral and technical support to realize most of its goals in promoting greater understanding and goodwill among the people of Assam and Bhutan,” said Mr. Chandan Brahma, who was the Deputy Commissioner of the Bodo Territorial Council prior his present post.

Talking to BT he said that peace and tranquility is the key to development in any sphere. “To achieve greater peace there should be better understanding, faith and trust amongst our two people,” he said.
Assam and its adjacent Bhutanese towns like Gelephu, Sarpang, Nanglam, Panbang and Samdrup Jongkhar have always enjoyed a very close bond of relationship. “It was because of the militant problem that the people of Bhutan lost faith in their friends in Assam,” Mr. Chandan Brahma said. “It was a mistake and I will make strong efforts to marginalize the problem during my tenure.”

By Pem Gyeltshen
Central Bhutan Correspondent
for
Bhutan Times