GUWAHATI, March 27 — The Bangladesh Government has proposed to open up trade with Assam through Sylhet district in that country through a joint endeavour of the chambers of commerce of Sylhet and Assam. Bangladesh Secretary of Ministry of Commerce Suhel Ahmed who had a meeting with Assam Chief Minister and top State Government officials yesterday, called for more interaction between Bangladesh authority and Assam to increase the volume of trade and commerce in the interest of economic development on both sides of the border.
During the discussion, Ahmed pointed out that banks in the Northeast India had not accorded the priority to importers and exporters for trade and commerce in the region while their counterparts in Bangladesh have given a major boost to regional trade by providing all possible facilities to traders including issuance of letter of credit. He, however, expressed optimism that trade and commerce between Bangladesh and North East India would get a major boost following signing of an agreement between Bangladesh and India on Tuesday in New Delhi.
Suhel requested the State Chief Minister to allot a plot of land to set up a Bangladesh Export House in Guwahati which, he said, would enable people to buy quality products of Bangladesh at cheaper rate. In response to the request from the State Government to set up a branch of major bank of Bangladesh in Guwahati to boost trade and commerce, Ahmed pledged to give due consideration to the matter.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi assured that his government would appoint an officer to keep the doors of communication open with the Ministry of Commerce in order to boost trude between two sides.