Commerce Minister TipuMunshi said, Borderhaat has opened a new dimension in the relationship between the people of Bangladesh and India. This haat has created a lot of enthusiasm among the people of both the countries.
India is not only a neighboring country of Bangladesh. The relationship between the countries is bounded by friendship. The history, culture and historical monuments of both the countries are the same. Bangladesh always remembers India's cooperation in the war of liberation and India's warriors with gratitude.
During the Great War of Liberation, 80% of the refugees from Bangladesh took refuge in Tripura. The Commerce Minister said that there are already four border haats in Kurigram, Feni, Brahmanbaria and Sunamganj in the border areas of Bangladesh and India. People in the border areas of both the countries are enjoying the benefits.
The Commerce Minister made the remarks while laying the foundation stone of Borderhaat at the border of Kurmaghat in Moulvibazar district and Kamalpur in Dhalai district of Tripura, India on Thursday organized by the Ministry of Industries and Commerce, Government of Tripura, India.
The Chief Minister of Tripura Biplab Kumar Deb and the Minister for Industries and Commerce of the Government of Tripura ManojKanti Dev spoke on behalf of India.
The Commerce Minister said,“There is a lot of potential for export trade with Bangladesh in the northern part of India. Increasing trade facilities will benefit both countries. The Government of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is providing all facilities to increase trade and commerce with neighboring countries including India.”
The seaports of Chittagong, Mongla and Payra in Bangladesh are being used for low cost trade with the northern states of India. This is benefiting both the countries. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has struggled all his life with two objectives, the independence of one country and building Bangladesh as a golden Bengal. Now, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is moving fast towards building a Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal) for the country, he added.
TipuMunshi said India's bilateral trade and economic relations with Bangladesh are very good. India is Bangladesh's second largest trading partner. Bilateral trade has grown significantly in the last ten years. Ten years ago, the bilateral trade was 5.1 billion US dollars in the 2010-2011 financial year, it has increased to 9.9 billion US dollars in the last fiscal year 2020-2021. This relationship will grow in the future, he said.
“I believe that people from the border areas of both the countries are getting opportunity to buy and sell their vegetables, fruits, spices, towel-like cloths, plastic products, fish, melamine products, honey, readymade garments, and crockery products from the ongoing border haats. This is increasing the sincerity of the people of both the countries,”
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh VikramDoraiswamy, Member of Parliament for Moulvibazar-4 constituency in Bangladesh JatiyaSangsad, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Estimates Mohammad AbdusShahid and Chairman of Tripura Industrial Development Roy spoke on the occasion.
