Assistant High Commissioner (AHC) of India Sanjeev Kumar Bhati on Sunday said India would continue to work constructively in expanding bilateral trade and commerce with Bangladesh. “The two neighbouring countries are working together for further cementing warm friendly relations and people-to-people connectivity to explore potential of the regional economy,” the Indian envoy, stationed at Rajshahi, said.
He said this at a function organised by Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) office in Rangpur to accord him warm reception on his appointment as the new Indian AHC at Rajshahi.
Presided over by RCCI President Mostofa Sohrab Chowdhury Titu, its Senior Vice-President Mostoba Hossain Ripon welcomed the Indian envoy and narrated trade situations between the two friendly countries. The RCCI President greeted Sanjeev with wreaths and handed over a crest of the organisation to him in the function participated by incumbent and former executives and Directors of RCCI, local exporters, importers and journalists.
Some importers and exporters discussed prevailing issues related to import-export, trade and commerce between the two neighbouring nations, immigration check post, visa and transit visa. They raised problems like lack of modern infrastructures, warehouse, quarantine and other testing facilities for Bangladeshi export items at Chengrabandha land customs station, poor quality and less weight of some imported Indian goods.
Congratulating the Indian envoy, RCCI President Titu stressed on further strengthening brotherly relations and extending bilateral trade and commerce by resolving prevailing problems to explore full potential of the regional economy. He suggested for upgrading the Chengrabandha land customs station at
Fulbari inside India opposite Burimari land port of Bangladesh into a full- fledged land port so that permissible goods of both countries might be imported and exported easily. He said exporters and importers of Bangladesh like to enjoy full facilities of the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA).
He suggested the envoy to wave off additional endorsement in Indian visa to enable Bangladeshi exporters and importers in visiting Bhutan and Nepal
easily to expand regional trade and commerce among the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal nations. “India can consider for joint investments involving investors both at government and private initiatives in the potential agro-economy based northern region of Bangladesh to benefit peoples of both countries,” Titu added.
The Indian envoy assured of taking steps to further easing transit visa for exporters and importers of Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal and resolving some problems like non-tariff barriers for Bangladeshi goods to enhance bilateral trade and commerce.