Target trade

Bangladesh and India have taken about a dozen initiatives to open more rail links, land ports and river ports of call, and another air route to further increase trade between the two countries.
Different ministries have been asked to implement the moves to enhance connectivity between the two neighbours.
The instructions came at an inter-ministerial meeting presided over by Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday.
The developments follow the recent India visit by Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, who discussed issues of cooperation and connectivity with the Indian side.  
Following Tofail's visit, Ahmad Tariq Karim, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, wrote to the commerce ministry, mentioning the initiatives needed to enhance trade between the two countries.
New Delhi sent a letter to Dhaka last month, recommending that 23 steps be taken to increase trade between the two nations.
The initiatives include improving land ports and rail links, setting up several river ports of call and border haats, and opening Dhaka-Guwahati air route.  
The latest status of these initiatives was presented at yesterday's meeting.
The joint working group of Bangladesh and India will discuss these initiatives at a meeting scheduled for this month, said a commerce ministry official asking not to be named.
Emerging from the inter-ministerial meeting, Tofail told reporters that they had discussed the development of river, rail and road links to boost trade between Bangladesh and India.
The minister said regional connectivity and cooperation must be enhanced for that, and right now this is number one priority.
Connectivity is vital for increasing trade between the two countries, he said.

Asked whether India will be given transit to enhance connectivity, Tofail said, “If we close our doors, others will take our place. Nobody waits for others”.
But it doesn't mean Bangladesh will open its doors without any benefits, he said.
At yesterday's meeting, government officials pointed out that though trade between the two countries takes place through Fulbari-Banglabandha land port in Panchagarh, no immigration check post is there.
The home ministry was asked to take necessary steps to set up an immigration check post as soon as possible.
The officials also discussed the development of three land ports -- Burimari-Chengrabandha, Nakugaon-Dhalu and Tamabeel-Dauki -- and the connecting roads.
They identified four rail links -- Rohanpur-Sindbad, Birol-Radhikapur, Akhaura-Agartala and Ramgarh-Agartala -- that need to be improved to facilitate trade.
It was decided that rail and road links would be improved in line with the decisions taken at prime minister-level meetings between the two nations in 2010.
The shipping ministry was asked to prepare a report to increase trade through the Brahmaputra river routes.
Besides, a decision was made to open an air route between Dhaka and Guwahati by June, according to meeting sources.
Setting up of four border haats at Bangladesh-Tripura border was also discussed. Now, there are two border haats in Kurigram and Sunamganj.
At the meeting, Ahmad Tariq presented details of the initiatives.
Prime Minister's International Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi told the meeting that Bangladesh has to sign separate agreements with India, Bhutan and Nepal for increasing trade, according to the sources.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmud Ali, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Communications Minister Obaidul Quader and Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan were also present at the meeting.