Tripura govt submits charter on how to increase Bangla trade

AGARTALA: Tripura Government submitted a charter of demands to a parliamentry standing committee on Commerce regarding measures on how to increase bilateral trade between Bangladesh and the north eastern states.

"We told the committee for improvement of land custom stations in both sides, repairing and widening of roads, connecting Akhaura and Agartala through railway tracks, facility to use the two nearby ports of Bangladesh, Chittagong and Ashuganj," Chowdhury told reporters here today.

A seven member team of parliamentary standing committee of Commerce led by Kashiram Rana visited0lanecustomstations at Akhaura Check Post here yesterday and talked to Tripura minister for Commerce and Trade, Jitendra Chowdhury, exporters and importers of the state and state government officials regarding the possibility of enhancing trade between Bnagladesh and north eastern states of India.

Chowdhury said Ashuganj river port is withing 25 km and Chittagong port is about 75 km and if transhipment can be introduced between the two countries by using these ports Tripura can become the commercial gateway of North-East.

He said the parliamentary standing committee would raise the issues in the parliament and take up the matter with the External Affairs ministry so that they take up those issues with Bangladesh for enhancing bi-lateral trade. more