Requests for early steps before arrival of competitors

Bangladesh is moving forward to strengthen further the trade and economic ties with India, targeting the latter's north-eastern (NE) states' market, sources said.
With this end in view, Bangladesh High Commissioner in New Delhi Tariq A Karim has requested Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed to immediately make operational the land ports and land customs stations (LCS) bordering Indian north-eastern states, complete Akhaura-Agartala rail link, and establish air link between Dhaka and Guahati as early as possible.
"I am recommending the steps with a certain sense of urgency, as both Thailand and Myanmar, our main competitors in the north-eastern Indian market, are working very hard (to have an access there), while India is giving fresh impetus to the completion of the Kaladan highway project," Mr Karim wrote in a recent letter to the minister.
"Once completed (the highway project), our relevance would become secondary, if not entirely bypassed if the politics is perceived here as being unfriendly or hostile," he added.
Dhaka and New Delhi have a huge trade gap despite the fact that the giant neighbour has granted duty-free access to Bangladeshi products in its market. In the fiscal year (FY) 2012-13, Bangladesh exported goods worth US$ 563 million to India, while it imported products worth over $4.8 billion further widening the trade gap.
The commerce minister at a recent meeting with  businessmen in Dhaka said Bangladesh exports to India could not increase due to non-tariff and para-tariff barriers, as well as the tiny product basket of the former.

"I raised the issues of non-tariff and para-tariff barriers with the Indian ministers, while visiting New Delhi in mid-January," he said.
In the letter the Bangladesh envoy also urged ensuring early operation of the north-south trade corridor linking Bhutan, Nepal, and northeast India with Bangladesh ports for trade, and travel.
He wrote the Fulbari-Banglabandha LCS is well connected by road with Panchagarh district and Shiliguri sub-division in West Bengal. Bangladesh uses the LCS for trade with Nepal and India, but it has no immigration check-post. Both sides have demand for immigration facilities at the LCS.
Mr Karim said appointment of a phyto-sanitary officer at the Indian side of Chengrabandha-Burimari land port is needed for speedy export procedure of Bangladeshi goods.
He also wrote that in the Dalu-Nakugaon land port area, road communication on the Indian side, up to Guahati city, is fine. But on Bangladesh side, from Nakugaon to Sherpur district, the road connection is not up to the mark.
Regarding Dawki-Tamabil land port, he said Bangladesh could not start work of Tamabil land port due to land litigation, while on the Indian side only 25 kilometres of road from Dawki to Shillong is worthy of motorised vehicle travel.
The High Commissioner suggested quick completion of Akhaura-Agartala rail link for transportation of goods between India and Bangladesh.
According to his letter, Biman Bangladesh Airlines is planning to start the Dhaka-Guahati flight during June-July this year. He urged bringing forward the launch of the flight as early as possible.
He also suggested setting up of as many border haats as possible immediately.
Sources said the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi would soon request the Indian foreign ministry to agree to opening of a deputy high commission in Guahati and upgrading of the visa office in Agartala to an assistant high commission, so that they can contribute to further expansion of bilateral trade.