Bangla, India could ink border haat deal during Hasina visit
Anisur Rahman/PTI / Dhaka Nov 23, 2009, 14:41 IST
Bangladesh and India might soon allow makeshift bazaars to come up in frontier villages and an agreement to this effect is likely to be signed during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's forthcoming visit to New Delhi.
The "border haats" proposal was mooted by India to ease the hardships of people residing in either side of the border, particularly in hilly frontiers, The Financial Express newspaper said today.
A senior foreign ministry official confirmed the report, saying a process was earlier initiated to assess the feasibility in line with an Indian proposal to finalise details of the deal ahead of the premier's visit.
Hasina is set to fly to New Delhi on December 18 on a three-day visit in her first tour to India since assuming the prime minister's office early this year.
Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, earlier this year suggested launching of border trade of small items between designated frontier village "haats" (bazaars) on pilot project basis under the supervision of paramilitary frontier guards of the two countries.
India has preferred barter to cash transaction for the proposed trade with a view to checking any illegal money exchange.
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