AL-led govt for enhanced connectivity with India
2014-03-05 13:34:20
Thereport24.com Desk, Dhaka:
Ruling Awami League-led Bangladesh government on Tuesday indicated willingness to offer transit facility to India with a senior minister saying positive attitude was needed on the contentious issue.
"We (Bangladeshis) have a typical mindset about transit and corridors, it needs to be changed," Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed told reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting to explore enhanced connectivity with India, chaired by Finance Minister AMA Muhith, reports PTI.
Ahmed said unless Bangladesh explored ways for enhanced connectivity, "we ourselves will be loser too".
The meeting planned to seek introduction of a Dhaka-Guwahati direct flight and opening of two more deputy high commissions (DHCs) in the two state capitals of Guwahati and Chennai as part of Bangladesh's efforts to achieve enhanced connectivity with India.
"The main thrust of the meeting was to improve connectivity further between the two countries," Ahmed said.
This was the first such meeting on Indo-Bangladesh cooperation after the January 5 elections brought Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling Awami League to power for the second consecutive term.
Ahmed said the government was also working on expanding rail and sea links with India.
He said proper attention was given to complete the Akhaura-Agartala rail link and to initiate talks for introducing Agartala-Ramgarh rail link.
The meeting was attended by Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Foreign Minister A H Mahmud Ali, Communications Minister Obaidul Quader, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, Railways Minister Mujibul Haque, premier's adviser on Foreign Affairs Gowher Rizvi and Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Tariq A Karim.
Ahmed said the government decided to improve the physical infrastructure and services at land ports to facilitate faster trade with India.
The land ports include Banglabandha-Burimari- Chengrabandha, Naogaon-Nakugaon and Tamabil-Daoki.
Ahmed said immigration check post at Banglabandha-Phulbaria point on Panchagarh-Darjiling road would also be opened soon.
He said since India had given duty-free and quota-free access of Bangladeshi products into its market, the meeting discussed in detail how to successfully avail these opportunities without hindrance.
Bangladesh's bilateral trade balance is heavily tilted towards India as export of Bangladeshi goods to India totalled USD 563.96 million in fiscal 2012-13 against the import of USD 4,776.10 million from India.
Bangladesh was expected to sign a comprehensive transit deal with India during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit in September 2011.
However, Bangladesh refused to sign the proposed agreement after India backed out from signing the much-expected accord on sharing the common Teesta river water.
Ahmed said connectivity gets due importance in the regional forums like Asean, EU and APEC, "but, we have a mindset regarding transit and corridor".
The then foreign minister Dipu Moni last year, said Bangladesh took a "comprehensive look" towards "all aspects" of transit or trans-shipment to India, with the development of required infrastructure at home to offer the facility to its neighbour.
Transit through Bangladesh, for India in particular, remained to be a contentious issue as main opposition BNP and its right-wing allies were opposed to the facility for "security and economic concerns".
AL-led govt for enhanced connectivity with India
