Help country get highest benefit of transit
Monday, 25 April 2011
FE Report
Commerce Minister Faruk Khan Sunday urged the political parties to reach a consensus on the transit issue to help the country get the highest benefit of the facility. He also reiterated that the visiting Indian commerce minister had made it clear that his country was ready to give transit fees to Bangladesh as per the international norms. "Political difference or unnecessary contradiction on the transit issue makes the country weak in the negotiation table," said the minister while speaking at a discussion on 'Regional connectivity for mutual benefit of the regional countries' at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city. Jointly organised by Bangladesh Economic Association and Dhaka School of Economics, the discussion was addressed by Selim Raihan of Dhaka University. Mohammad A Arafat of Independent University presented the key-note paper. The commerce minister said almost all the past governments since 1980 have taken stand against transit after signing trade agreements with India. "This is very unfortunate that after signing the agreement they take the opposing stand and create confusion among people," Faruk Khan said. The minister claimed that among all the regional countries including India, Bangladesh will achieve the highest benefit of the regional connectivity as it will get the scope of developing road, rail and river networks throughout the country.
Commerce Minister Faruk Khan Sunday urged the political parties to reach a consensus on the transit issue to help the country get the highest benefit of the facility. He also reiterated that the visiting Indian commerce minister had made it clear that his country was ready to give transit fees to Bangladesh as per the international norms. "Political difference or unnecessary contradiction on the transit issue makes the country weak in the negotiation table," said the minister while speaking at a discussion on 'Regional connectivity for mutual benefit of the regional countries' at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city. Jointly organised by Bangladesh Economic Association and Dhaka School of Economics, the discussion was addressed by Selim Raihan of Dhaka University. Mohammad A Arafat of Independent University presented the key-note paper. The commerce minister said almost all the past governments since 1980 have taken stand against transit after signing trade agreements with India. "This is very unfortunate that after signing the agreement they take the opposing stand and create confusion among people," Faruk Khan said. The minister claimed that among all the regional countries including India, Bangladesh will achieve the highest benefit of the regional connectivity as it will get the scope of developing road, rail and river networks throughout the country.