The border markets would be opened at Kasba in Sipahijala and Srinagar in South Tripura districts for trading by local producers living within five km of the border of the two countries.
Construction work for the Srinagar border market began on Sunday last in the presence of officials of South Tripura district and Feni district of Bangladesh. The market is likely to be completed within the next three months.
The border markets will be allowed to sell among others local agricultural and horticultural products, spices, minor forest products (excluding timber), fresh and dry fish, dairy and poultry products, cottage industry items, wooden furniture and handloom and handicraft items, a government official of the state Industries and Commerce department said.
Temporary identity cards will be issued by border security personnel of both sides to enter the market. No tax would be imposed on traders and both Indian and Bangladeshi currencies will be accepted.
In future, two more markets will be set up at Dharmanagar in North Tripura district and Kamalpur in Dhalai district as agreed by the two countries, Tripura's Commerce Minister Jitendra Chaudhury said.
If infrastructure is upgraded, the volume of trade between Bangladesh and north eastern states of India will increase five to six times of the current level, President of Tripura Chamber of Commerce M L Debnath said.