Despite the recent hiccup in India-Bangladesh ties — when a planned visit by Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was postponed at the last minute — bilateral engagement and reset efforts remain underway, even as Sheikh Hasina’s extradition remains a key outstanding issue.
The proposal to reopen border haats came up at a meeting between Bangladesh Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday, Bangladeshi news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sanstha (BSS) reported. In a bid to improve trade and restore elements of the relationship, Bangladesh and India have discussed reopening closed border haats (markets), making land ports fully operational and withdrawing the existing restriction on yarn imports through land routes as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral trade relations. However, some obstacles have emerged over the past one and a half years, causing a slowdown in trade activities. If economic ties are strengthened, cooperation in other areas will also increase, he added.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, the Bangladeshi commerce minister said bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India currently stands at around US$13 billion.
The minister said India is Bangladesh’s second-largest trading partner after China, noting that the two countries have maintained longstanding economic ties and signalling that efforts were still on to improve ties. The Bangladeshi commerce minister said the initiatives are aimed at creating new investment opportunities, expanding business ties and accelerating bilateral trade. The high commissioner said economic cooperation is the most important element in improving bilateral relations.
