Indian HC on illegal migration
Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty yesterday alleged that every year around 25,000 Bangladeshi nationals enter India with visa but do not return.
Such migration of Bangladeshi nationals is a matter of concern for India, said Pinak at a seminar titled India-Bangladesh Economic Relations at a hotel in the city yesterday.
"We have to be circumspect in issuing visas particularly when we know that around 25,000 Bangladeshis do not return after entering India every year. Those who enter unrecorded are many more. Our concern about illegal migrants cannot be brushed aside," said Pinak.
"Bangladesh government could, perhaps, consider discussing this issue with us," Pinak said at the seminar jointly organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on the occasion of visit by a 50-member high-powered Indian business delegation.
Harsh C Mariwala, vice-president of FICCI, is leading the delegation.
The Indian High Commissioner said inadequate connectivity is a major impediment to the economic development in the region. “It adds to cost in doing business which needs to be addressed without delay,” he added.
He continued that better connectivity could also include linking of national power grids, construction of gas pipelines, improved telecommunications links and information highways.
"It is encouraging to note that Bangladesh's exports to India have expanded more than five times--from $62 million in 2000-01 to $358 million in 2007-08. This indicates that the business community in Bangladesh is increasingly looking towards India, and is tapping potential market access opportunities. We welcome this trend," Pinak said.
Two-way trade has grown and crossed $3.7 billion mark in 2007-08, he said.
As per statistics from the Indian Ministry of Commerce, in 2007-8 fiscal year Bangladesh's import from India was $2.918 billion and export to India $257.12 million.
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