“Bangladesh has responded positively to India's request for accessing these ports,” the Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Anand Sharma, told presspersons here after holding talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart, Mr Muhammad Faruk Khan.
This will also increase investment and joint ventures between the east and North-East India and Bangladesh, Mr Sharma said.
Mr Khan said: “This has been decided between the Governments that Bangladesh will give access. But once the discussions are over, this will be done, of course.” Earlier since Bangladesh was not giving access, India was building an alternative multi-modal route from Mizoram to Myanmar through the river Kaladan. In this regard, India was helping Myanmar develop Sittwe port. The two sides also signed an MoU for establishing Haats along the Meghalaya-Bangladesh border.
In the power sector, India and Bangladesh have already signed the $1-billion Line of Credit, the Bulk Power Transmission Agreement and an MoU between NTPC and Bangladesh Power Development Board.
Mr Sharma said India was currently constructing seven Integrated Check Posts and eight Land Custom Stations under a $125-million ASIDE scheme.
The two sides are also in discussion to construct the bridge across the Feni to begin trade between Sabroom and Ramgarh.
India and Bangladesh have also agreed to increase their bilateral trade from the present level of $3 billion to $5 billion in two years.
Two agreements on procedures were signed to facilitate movement of trucks between the two countries and also for movement of trucks from Nepal to Bangladesh both up to Land Customs Stations, thus fulfilling important commitments made during the visit of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Ms Sheikh Hasina, an official statement said.
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