Indian HC discusses bilateral issues with General Matin
Friday, 15 February 2008
Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Pinak Ranjan Chakraborty Thursday met with Home Affairs Adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin and discussed border issues, direct transportation between Bangladesh and Nepal through Indian corridors, passenger train service and easing visa regime, reports UNB.
Home Ministry sources said they discussed progresses made by the Joint Border Working Group, barbed-wire fencing by India, security aspects of Sealdah-Joydevpur passenger train service, direct transportation of goods between Bangladesh and Nepal through Banglabandh landport, development of land-port infrastructure on the Indian side and easing visa for Indian artists travelling to Bangladesh.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, the Indian High Commissioner said cost of rice in India has increased due to price rises on the international rice market.
He said the price of per-metric tonne of rice has increased to US$ 500 from $ 420. However, he said India is selling 0.5 million (5 lakh) metric tonnes of coarse rice to Bangladesh at $ 400 per metric tonne.
Pinak noted that the Indian government is to meet the demand for rice of one billion people of his country.
In reply to a question, the High Commissioner said friendly relations between Bangladesh and India would not suffer any jolt due to the rice issue. However, he said the Indian government would obviously look after its interest. "How it could be possible to feed others by keeping ourselves starved?"
Asked about New Delhi's view about Bangladesh's current situation, he said India wants Bangladesh to return to democracy through free and fair elections according to the election roadmap.
Home Ministry sources said they discussed progresses made by the Joint Border Working Group, barbed-wire fencing by India, security aspects of Sealdah-Joydevpur passenger train service, direct transportation of goods between Bangladesh and Nepal through Banglabandh landport, development of land-port infrastructure on the Indian side and easing visa for Indian artists travelling to Bangladesh.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, the Indian High Commissioner said cost of rice in India has increased due to price rises on the international rice market.
He said the price of per-metric tonne of rice has increased to US$ 500 from $ 420. However, he said India is selling 0.5 million (5 lakh) metric tonnes of coarse rice to Bangladesh at $ 400 per metric tonne.
Pinak noted that the Indian government is to meet the demand for rice of one billion people of his country.
In reply to a question, the High Commissioner said friendly relations between Bangladesh and India would not suffer any jolt due to the rice issue. However, he said the Indian government would obviously look after its interest. "How it could be possible to feed others by keeping ourselves starved?"
Asked about New Delhi's view about Bangladesh's current situation, he said India wants Bangladesh to return to democracy through free and fair elections according to the election roadmap.