TRIPURA & Bangladesh Reaffirm To Enhance Mutual Cooperation In Trade & Commerce

Tripura and Bangladesh have committed to deepen mutual cooperation in various spheres including economic relations. Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Monday discussed cross-border trade, improvement of connectivity and curbing of drug smuggling and illegal trade between his state and Bangladesh with visiting Bangladeshi Information Minister Hasan Mahmud.  Mahmud later told media the Chief Minister was keen on opening more Border Haats to boost livelihood of the people living in border villages, export tea to Bangladesh and use Chittagong and Mongla sea ports to carry goods and machinery from other parts of the country to Tripura via Bangladesh. Biplab Deb said the state government is for early completion of the 12.23 km Agartala-Akaura Railway project and construction of a bridge over river Feni in southern Tripura. Mahmud said that after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office, India-Bangladesh relations had further developed. Deb told Mahmud: “Before taking oath of office of Chief Minister on March 9 last year, I first took the blessings from my mother then talked to the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over phone. She told me to take steps to curb the smuggling of drugs to Bangladesh. I deeply admire her for her motherly love and affection. Our government has taken a series of steps to curb drugs smuggling and illegal business. “Mahmud, who was accompanied by parliamentarians, senior officials, and artists arrived in Tripura on Sunday on a three-day visit.Meanwhile, Syed Muazzem Ali, High Commissioner of Bangladesh posted in New Delhi, called on Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang at Samman Bhawan at Gangtok   on Monday.Ali was accompanied by Minister, High Commission of Bangladesh, Zahid-Ul-Islam.The Chief Minister submitted a proposal for a flight between Bagdogra North Bengal and Dhaka for Bangladeshi tourists intending   to visit Sikkim. They also discussed setting up a tourism facilitating Centre at Foolbaari, Siliguri, for issuing visa and other travel documents to Bangladeshi tourists. The Chief Minister informed Ali about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Neighborhood First” policy and said he was following the same with utmost sincerity to develop cordial relations with the neighbors. The High Commissioner spoke about the congenial relationship between India and Bangladesh, and said that there was no place for terrorism in his country and it believed in peaceful relationship with neighbours. He also invited the Chief Minister to visit Bangladesh. Tamang thanked the High Commissioner for visiting Sikkim and said he could help develop health and religious tourism in the state. He also laid stress on improving connectivity between Bangladesh and Sikkim.(Map courtesy to Wikipedia)