Dhaka for expanding ties with north-east India

Bangladesh wants to expand its economic relations with India’s north-eastern states to take ties to a new height, the foreign minister has said.

AH Mahmood Ali expressed this sentiment while meeting India’s junior external affairs minister VK Singh.

Singh, who was here on a 24-hour visit to attend a business conclave, left Dhaka on Sunday.

The India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) and Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Kolkata jointly organised the conclave that discussed ways to boost economic activities to the benefit of both countries.

The foreign ministry said Ali had stressed increased cooperation in the power sector, in particular, while meeting Singh in his office.

The minister had earlier said the development of India’s north-eastern region would benefit Bangladesh, too.

He said Dhaka had already requested New Delhi to let it open a Deputy High Commission in Guwahati.

Dhaka also sought permission to upgrade its Agartala Visa Office to an Assistant High Commission to increase diplomatic and commercial presence in the Indian northeast.

Singh is a state minister with an independent charge for the development of India’s north-eastern region.

He said there was immense scope to increase Bangladesh's trade dealings with India, especially with its north-eastern region.

He assured the foreign minister of his government’s full cooperation in this regard.

Singh said that before his arrival in Dhaka on Saturday, he had “fruitful” meetings with the chief ministers of the north-eastern states, including Assam, in Guwahati.

He said he had discussed ways to boost the region’s economy by ensuring “inter-connectivity and enhancing business cooperation”, the foreign ministry said.

Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran and Director General of South Asia in the ministry of foreign affairs Tarique Md. Ariful Islam were present, among others, during the meeting.