Don't bracket Bangladesh with Pakistan, let businesses operate: Envoy

NEW DELHI: Not happy to be "bracketed with Pakistan" in terms of security risk, Bangladesh today said it was creating problems for its businessmen to set up shop here while Indian brand names were freely operating in Dhaka.

It said the matter has been taken up with Indian authorities.

"Major problem (is) banking transactions. If I go to Dhaka, you will see over 100 Indian brand names over there. I face questions from my own family that why cannot we see Bangladeshi brand names here. We had somebody apply for setting up an outlet here but he cannot.

"We are still bracketed with Pakistan in terms of security. The RBI mechanism spits out the application and it is thrown on the wayside because we are still a security risk.... We have taken this up, I don't know how long it will take," Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Tariq Ahmad Karim said here.

He was addressing a conference on South Asian Economic Integration here.

Kamar said if Bangladeshi nationals are not allowed to even open bank accounts, "they are not going to come. These are little things but they translate into huge things".

Stressing the need for having better communication facilities between the two countries, he said, "I hope before I leave India in another 12 months, I will see a revised travel arrangement which will make communication easier. Without communication, you cannot have business done."