4 more border markets
The commerce ministry has selected locations along the Bangladesh-India border for setting up four more border haats (markets) to create new economic opportunities and increase business in the products produced in the two countries, officials of the ministry said.
They said that the locations are situated along the border of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Mymensingh districts in Bangladesh and Meghalaya in India.
At a recent inter-ministerial meeting, the ministry, however, has rejected the proposals made by India for establishing 23 more border markets along Meghalaya and Mizoram borders.
The ministry has sent its recommendation to the Cabinet Division for approval of setting up border markets in the selected locations.
‘The decision will be finalised after getting approval from the Cabinet Division,’ a high official of the commerce ministry told New Age on Tuesday.
A committee headed by an additional secretary of the Cabinet Division gives final approval to any proposal for establishing border market, he said.
Earlier in 2013, India proposed opening a total of 27 borders markets along the Meghalaya and Mizoram borders of the country.
Officials of the ministry said that they scrutinised the proposal in line with the reports from the Bangladesh Border Guard and the administrations of respective districts and chose the four locations wherein border markets could be established.
The four locations are Bholaganj on Sylhet border, Saidabad (Tahirpur) and Ryngku on Sunamganj border and Bhuiyanpara (Dhobaura) on Mymensingh border. The places are situated along the borders of East Khasia Hills, South West Khasia Hills and South Garo Hills of Meghalaya in India.
The meeting rejected the proposals for opening 23 other border markets due to various reasons including less potential for business activities, less inhabitation and inadequate infrastructure, ministry officials said.
The meeting also found no scope for setting up any border market along the Mizoram border of the two countries due to lack of improved communication system, less inhabitation and economic activities in the border area.
At the meeting, two more proposals made by local people for setting up border markets at Sribordi upazila in the Sherpur district and Mugholhat upazila in Lalmonirhat were also discussed but rejected.
Ministry officials said that the border market issue along with other issues might be discussed at a two-day meeting of the Joint Working
Group of Bangladesh-India on trade facilitation beginning in Dhaka today.
There are some border markets operating along the borders of the two countries. At the market places local people from the two countries sell their products produced locally.
-With New Age input
