Headlines       Vol. 2 Issue 1-2

May 7- May 21 , 1999

Mizoram CM for reopening border trade with Bangladesh As part of his endeavour to strengthen the State's economy by reopening the traditional trade routes, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga recently visited Bangladesh capital Dhaka for three days to explore the possibilities of reopening the border trade between the tiny North-Eastern State and Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, the Mizoram Chief Minister met the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Commerce Minister Tofail, a host of other leaders and top businessmen of the country. He reportedly informed the Bangladeshis that the Government of India was very positive about expanding cross-border trade with Bangladesh. At the end of his visit, Zoramthanga expressed the desire to buy natural gas from Bangladesh to protect his state's forest resources. “We need gas very badly,” the Mizoram Chief Minister informed the Bangladesh leaders during the discussions. Zoramthanga also favoured a water link between Mizoram and the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) through the river Karnaphuli via lake Kaptai. If the water link comes into existence, it will help the landlocked State to use the Chittagong port. During his meeting with the Bangladesh Commerce Minister to explore areas and opportunities for mutual cooperation in the field of commerce and industry and other allied economic activities, Zoramthanga appreciated the Chittagong Hill Tract accord and said it was an encouraging step for maintaining peace in Mizoram as “we have a common border with the hill districts of Bangladesh”. He expressed hope that trade between Mizoram and Bangladesh could now be carried out smoothly as peace prevails on both sides. The Bangladesh Commerce Minister told the Mizoram Chief Minister that Bangladesh has wider scope to increase exports with India, especially with its bordering states. He informed that all issue relating to border trade would come up for discussion with the Indian Government in the next few weeks. He assured that efforts are on to fully make functional the trade agreement between the two friendly countries. “We would explore more areas to strengthen bilateral cooperation and we expect more tariff concessions so that our export items could get into Indian markets,” Mr. Tofail told Zoramthanga. Zoramthanga is keen on resuming border trade with Bangladesh because of the fact that the CHT had been the lifeline for the economy of Mizoram for centuries. But the economic lot of the State suffered as traditional access to Chittagong port was closed with Pakistan and India attaining Independence in 1947. Expressing the view that Bangladesh can be the main gateway for Mizoram to the international market, the Mizoram Chief Minister told the Bangladeshi businessmen, “We can bring down here agriculture and horticulture products for Bangladesh to process and market those worldwide through the Chittagong port. Listing the State's immediate needs, he said Mizoram badly needed pharmaceuticals, ceramics, rubber and plastic shoes and jute products.

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