Indo-Bangla border bazaars start operations next month
Friday, 14 May 2010
Nazmul Ahsan
Bangladesh and India have agreed to set up weekly bazaars on their border next month after officials of the two nations finalised a draft deal designed to make the markets smuggling-free.
Two bazaars will be set up in the first phase - one in Sunamganj and another in Kurigram along India's Meghalaya frontier - in a bid to boost trade and commerce for millions of border people.
Commerce ministry officials of the two nations hammered out the draft deal last week, agreeing to impose caps on trading and making the bazaars accessible only for the people who live in and around the area.
"We finalised the border haats deal last week during a meeting of joint working committee of the two nations. We hope to sign the deal next month," said a commerce ministry official here.
"We have inserted some clauses in the draft agreement at the last moment to make sure that smugglers of both sides of the border can't use these markets and can't launder money," he said.
Under the deal, an individual will not be able to trade above $50 at the bazaar and the trading should be conducted in currencies of the two nations.
Farm and home made items produced in 10 kilometer radius of border bazaar will be allowed to trade in the bazaar, which will be set up within 75 meters of the frontier, the official said, adding trading will be held once a week.
A committee comprising government officials and officers of border security forces of the two nations will manage the markets and will sit periodically to review its operation.
Dhaka and New Delhi agreed to set up border markets early this year when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made her first visit to India after sweeping to power for the second time.
The two nations had planned to start the markets on the first day of the Bengali new-year - on April 14 -- but the attempt fell through after concerns were raised that the proposed deal on the border bazaars lacked steps against smuggling.
The two nations launched border trading in April 1972 - just months after the country became independent. But it was cancelled a year later due to rampant smuggling along the border areas.
Officials said trading at the border markets won't be taxed or levied, won't fall under the two nations' foreign trade policies and laws and there will be no sanitary and phytosanitary requirements.
Under the draft deal, only farm items, handicrafts, horticulture, fresh and dry fish, wooden and cane furniture, utensils, farming tools and home-made clothing such as lunghi, gamcha would be eligible for border trading.
Officials said success of the two border markets would largely determine whether the same facilities would be established in other border towns and villages.
In 1972, a total of 181 land customs stations were established along the border to facilitate cross-border trading. Operations of around 130 stations were suspended a year later after allegations that they spurred smuggling.
Bangladesh and India have agreed to set up weekly bazaars on their border next month after officials of the two nations finalised a draft deal designed to make the markets smuggling-free.
Two bazaars will be set up in the first phase - one in Sunamganj and another in Kurigram along India's Meghalaya frontier - in a bid to boost trade and commerce for millions of border people.
Commerce ministry officials of the two nations hammered out the draft deal last week, agreeing to impose caps on trading and making the bazaars accessible only for the people who live in and around the area.
"We finalised the border haats deal last week during a meeting of joint working committee of the two nations. We hope to sign the deal next month," said a commerce ministry official here.
"We have inserted some clauses in the draft agreement at the last moment to make sure that smugglers of both sides of the border can't use these markets and can't launder money," he said.
Under the deal, an individual will not be able to trade above $50 at the bazaar and the trading should be conducted in currencies of the two nations.
Farm and home made items produced in 10 kilometer radius of border bazaar will be allowed to trade in the bazaar, which will be set up within 75 meters of the frontier, the official said, adding trading will be held once a week.
A committee comprising government officials and officers of border security forces of the two nations will manage the markets and will sit periodically to review its operation.
Dhaka and New Delhi agreed to set up border markets early this year when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made her first visit to India after sweeping to power for the second time.
The two nations had planned to start the markets on the first day of the Bengali new-year - on April 14 -- but the attempt fell through after concerns were raised that the proposed deal on the border bazaars lacked steps against smuggling.
The two nations launched border trading in April 1972 - just months after the country became independent. But it was cancelled a year later due to rampant smuggling along the border areas.
Officials said trading at the border markets won't be taxed or levied, won't fall under the two nations' foreign trade policies and laws and there will be no sanitary and phytosanitary requirements.
Under the draft deal, only farm items, handicrafts, horticulture, fresh and dry fish, wooden and cane furniture, utensils, farming tools and home-made clothing such as lunghi, gamcha would be eligible for border trading.
Officials said success of the two border markets would largely determine whether the same facilities would be established in other border towns and villages.
In 1972, a total of 181 land customs stations were established along the border to facilitate cross-border trading. Operations of around 130 stations were suspended a year later after allegations that they spurred smuggling.