Draft for Indo-Bangla trade pact finalized

FINALLY after almost two years, India and Bangladesh governments have managed to finalise the draft for Bilateral Trade Agreement (BLT). According to many trade pundits this is a significant move and will certainly improve the trade relations between the two neighbours. The draft was finalised after a prolonged negotiation between the two countries. However, India has reiterated its plea for withdrawal of ban on export of number of goods through land route. S Ramasundaram, joint secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, led the Indian delegation, while the Bangladeshi delegation was headed by Elias Ahmed of Bangladesh Ministry of Commerce. The next round of joint secretary-level trade talks will be held in Dhaka in April 2004.

The Agreement is likely to be signed soon. It needs a final nod of both the Governments. During the talks, India demanded the withdrawal of the ban on land route for a number of Indian exports, including cotton and various types of yarn. Bangladesh has promised to remove this ban once the problems related to the informal trade are resolved. India also raised some other important issues like the long-pending application of a joint venture promoted by Sun Pharma Limited of India. The Indian side felt that it might have an adverse impact on future Indian investments, especially in view of the proposed FTA. Bangladesh, on its part has agreed to take measures with the authorities concerned for early resolution of the issue.

Officials of both sides discussed in detail their respective lists of NTBs. The lists were exchanged in mid-August, 2003. India offered a concessional dispensation over the issue of mandatory certification by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for certain Bangladeshi products of export, notably cement. It has been mooted that imported clinker (the major raw material for cement) could be certified by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), instead of by BIS. As long-term solution, both countries agreed to start negotiations immediately for mutually recognising each other’s standards. The move is expected to considerably reduce the licensing period for Bangladeshi cement. Bangladesh’s request for a similar approach for a few more products may be considered by India.

78 NE ultra camps active in Bangla

THIS is quite perplexing that despite large presence of militants active in the North-East in Bangladesh, the Bangla authority is still denying any presence of terrorists on its soil. After submitting a list of 155 ultra camps in that country, the BSF has now handed over a list of another 78 camps in the neighbouring country. But Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) is yet to accept the fact. A recent meeting between the senior officials of the BSF and BDR discussed the issue of presence of insurgent camps in Bangladesh. Inspector General of BSF in charge of Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland sector, B. K. Dey led the BSF delegation in the talks. It is learnt that the issue of presence of insurgent camps in Bangla territory was discussed among other issues of mutual interest in the meeting.

“We have handed over a fresh list of the camps of different insurgent outfits to the BDR for necessary action,” said B. K. Dey. However, the BDR is still maintaining that there was no camp of any Indian insurgent outfit in Bangla territory. Deputy Director General of BDR, Brig Gen Md Ibrahim Khalil denied presence of insurgent camps in Bangladesh. Brig Gen Khalil claimed, “There is no such camp of Indian insurgent outfits in Bangla territory. Bangladesh would never allow any insurgent outfit to take shelter in country.”

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