Border Haat opens today

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Border Haat opens today

Bangladesh and India will jointly inaugurate their first ever Border Haat today along the borders of Kurigram district in Bangladesh and West Garo Hill district in the Indian state of Meghalaya.

Bangladesh Commerce Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan and his Indian counterpart Anand Sharma will formally open the market, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

The haat has been set up on four bighas of no-man's land along the border at Rajibpur upazila in Kurigram.

Locally produced vegetables, fruits, fruit juice, processed foods, spices, bamboo, bamboo grass and broomstick, products of local cottage industries like gamchha, lungi, garments and melamine products, small agricultural tools like plough, axe, spade and chisel etc will be traded at the haat.

The list of items allowed for trade in the designated markets may be expanded or modified on mutual consent.

The haat will resume on Wednesdays from 10:00am to 4:00pm in the summer and 10:00am to 3.00pm in the winter, Md Abdul Kader, a member of the haat inauguration committee, told our Kurigram correspondent.

People living within 5-kilometre radius of the haat will be allowed to trade here with special identity cards, noted Kader, also the upazila nirbahi officer of Rajibpur.

The yearly volume of bilateral trade from the Border Haats has been estimated at around $20 million.

Illegal trafficking may stop now in the area after the launch of the Border Haat, said Jahurul Islam, a resident of Rajibpur.

More than 2000 Bangladeshis and 69 Indians applied to their respective authorities for a place in the haat. But primarily around 300 of them will get the opportunity for marketing their products.

The Indian minister hoped the opening of the haat will herald a new chapter of cooperation in Indo-Bangla trade. “Border Haats will make the border villages on both sides more prosperous through improved market access for the locally produced goods,” he added.

Chief Minister of Meghalaya Mukul M Sangma, lawmakers Md Jafor Ali (Kurigram-2), Md Jakir Hossen (Kurigram-4) and divisional commissioner of Rangpur, among others, are expected to grace the inaugural function.

Sangma urged to further bolster the Indo-Bangla trade ties for the betterment of the neighbours.

“Building up a sustainable relationship is very important for both of us…. There is a need for increasing inter-dependence between the two nations,” observed the chief minister.

The two sides signed an agreement on October 23 last year to set up two border haats allowing each other's trucks into their territories and carry goods up to warehouses.

As per the memorandum of understanding, the two countries have identified 13 items -- locally grown agricultural and manufactured finished products -- for trading at the haats.

In addition to opening Border Haats, both the countries are working on several projects to improve trade infrastructure and connectivity.

Border Haat opens today

An intelligent way to legalise the smuggling that occurs.

Good way to get rid of irritants.

 

[Splurgenxs]

^^ true regulating illegal activities keep them in check as well as provides revenue to proper elements and control mafias.

 

[idune]

This is old indian tactics to promote smuggling and destroy Bangladeshi farms. And offcource Awami indian stooge regime will go for it. This so called border haat will be used by india as an excuse that ULFA or other group getting inside Bangladesh. Not to mention risk of spreading AIDS from indian and any other epidemic.

However, the experience of border market (trade) between India and Bangladesh was not pleasant. The system was introduced in April 1972, but was cancelled in 1973 amid rampant smuggling along the boarder areas that made the formal market system redundant.

A total of 181 land customs stations were established across the borders in 1972 by the then government to operate the trading system, Operations of around 130 such stations were suspended soon after the government decided not to continue the border trade.

Delhi proposes signing of 'border haat' agreement before April 14

 

[rajusri]

This is old indian tactics to promote smuggling and destroy Bangladeshi farms. This so called border haat will be used by india as an excuse that ULFA or other group getting inside Bangladesh.

Another evil Indian plot to destroy you. Be scared!

And offcource Awami indian stooge regime will go for it.

Our stooge is your master!

Not to mention risk of spreading AIDS from indian and any other epidemic.

AIDS or anything else do not you need to stop the population explosion in your country. It has highest breeding ground in the region resulting destruction of environment of the region. Highest density. lol

 

[Laughing_soldier]

Well done India-Bangladesh and let the haters burn

The Union Minister for Commerce & Industry and Textiles, Shri Anand Sharma, the Minister of Commerce, Bangladesh, Mr. Muhammad Faruk Khan and the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Dr. Mukul M. Sangma at the inauguration of the first Border Haat, at Kalaichar, in West Garo Hills District of Meghalaya on July 23, 2011.

 

[LaBong]

*points fingers towards Jamatis and laughs*

 

[Kazhugu]

Not to mention risk of spreading AIDS from indian and any other epidemic.

AIDS is an epidemic.........thats precious.............

 

[asad71]

This is old indian tactics to promote smuggling and destroy Bangladeshi farms. And offcource Awami indian stooge regime will go for it. This so called border haat will be used by india as an excuse that ULFA or other group getting inside Bangladesh. Not to mention risk of spreading AIDS from indian and any other epidemic.

1.Just after Liberation, India had pushed for two items for immediate acceptance by BD. One was overflying. In the discussions with Indians, Air Chief Khandokar had agreed with this proposal right away. Later Sheikh a very annoyed Sheikh gave Khandokar a good piece of his mind. Sheikh had turned this down.

2. Border market was the next item and Sheikh had to accept in face of pressures from India and his party. But then he called Bhashani for a confidential chat and explained the situation. As agreed between them, Maulana immediately went on an anti-border hat movement. Now Sheikh had a good reason to withdraw this - and he did.

 

[TopCat]

All along we complained against smuggling from India and India always played foul when it came to stopping smuggling as it was in favor of them. But as soon as the plate turned and our products having a upper hand they started killing smugglers. Nothing but indian COWS have any market left over in Bangladesh now.

 

[asad71]

And only yesterday BSF dragged a BD national to their side, tortured and shot him, and then hung his body on the barbed wire. How can GOB deal with these beasts?

 

[TopCat]

And only yesterday BSF dragged a BD national to their side, tortured and shot him, and then hung his body on the barbed wire. How can GOB deal with these beasts?

Declare India as enemy state and start constructing our own barbed wire fence with electrification. So that no Indian and BSF could intrude BD. Shoot at sight should be the order. The only people should be allowed are those who shows allegiance to Bangldesh despite being the citizen of India.

 

[Veritas]

Declare India as enemy state and start constructing our own barbed wire fence with electrification. So that no Indian and BSF could intrude BD. Shoot at sight should be the order. The only people should be allowed are those who shows allegiance to Bangldesh despite being the citizen of India.

Wonderful Idea, hey wait a minute... you were complaining when the Indians were building a fence....
Jamati double standards, an arm chair General declaring war in Bangladesh sitting in some nice air-conditioned corner in US.

 

[Kazhugu]

Declare India as enemy state and start constructing our own barbed wire fence with electrification. So that no Indian and BSF could intrude BD. Shoot at sight should be the order. The only people should be allowed are those who shows allegiance to Bangldesh despite being the citizen of India.

ploease do it...will save our cost of building fence and electrification...if possible mine the border also.....

 

[Kazhugu]

And only yesterday BSF dragged a BD national to their side, tortured and shot him, and then hung his body on the barbed wire. How can GOB deal with these beasts?

before calling our sioldiers beasts prove that he was a farmer from a neutral source and not a smuggler or a illegal migrant you beast.....your jamati propaganda does not work with us......do you think our soldiers have non other work other ta coming for picnics into bd and pulling back a man with them...

 

[harpreet singh]

Declare India as enemy state and start constructing our own barbed wire fence with electrification. So that no Indian and BSF could intrude BD. Shoot at sight should be the order. The only people should be allowed are those who shows allegiance to Bangldesh despite being the citizen of India.

every nation has a set of insane people , you are an example of that , no matter what you think your government and countrymen are for good relations with india rest may go to hell. india bangladesh