Six new Border Haats to be set up

India and Bangladesh today agreed to set up six new Border Haats with an aim to increase the trade between the two countries, officials said.

The agreement for setting up of new Border Haats was signed by Bhupinder S Bhalla, joint secretary, Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Md Shafiqul Islam, additional secretary Ministry of Commerce, Bangladesh in the first meeting of the Joint Border Haat Committee (JBHC) which concluded here today.

The six new Border Haats would be set up in north eastern states bordering Bangladesh before March, 2019, but the venues are yet to be selected, they said.

A press communique issued by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, said the MoU on Border Haats between the two neighbouring countries signed on April 8, 2017 provides for establishment of joint committee to review the Border Haats operations, suggest modifications in the operational modalities and propose new locations of Border Haats.

The joint committee visited the Border Haat at Kamalasagar bordering Brahmanbaria in Bangladesh yesterday and "appreciated its vibrant functioning and noted the need for improvement of infrastructure", the communique said.

"In the meeting, both sides noted the positive impact of Border Haats on the livelihood of people living in areas adjoining the haats," the communique said adding the committee also reviewed the operations of the four functional Border Haats.

Two Border Haats in Tripura are functioning at Kamalasagar in Sipahijala district and Srinagar in South Tripura district.

Shafiqul Islam told reporters that the tasty Hilsa fish found in Bangladesh is not in the product lists of Bangladesh and the country was also not putting it in the list in near future considering limited productions in the country.

The joint team also met Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb last night and discussed various issues related to the bilateral trade with Bangladesh.