Bangladesh to open more consulates in India

Bangladesh has decided to open more consulates in India’s northeast region to improve trade, people-to-people contacts and cultural ties, an official said here Tuesday.

Bangladesh currently has one consulate in the northeastern region in Tripura’s capital Agartala.

“The Agartala office would be upgraded as an assistant high commission and a new deputy high commission would be set up in (Assam’s main city of) Guwahati,” a Bangladesh government official told IANS.

He said: “If Bangladesh opens a new mission in India or upgrades an existing office, the Indian government would also take reciprocal steps in Bangladesh. The matter is now in the final stages between the two governments.”

“Extension and upgradation of the Bangladesh missions in northeast India would boost trade and economy, people-to-people contact and cultural relations between Bangladesh and the northeastern region,” the official added.

Tripura and other state governments of northeast India are keen to improve trade and business with Bangladesh.

Tripura Commerce Minister Jitendra Chaudhury said: “Trade between Bangladesh and other northeastern states has been increasing remarkably.”

“Trade between Bangladesh and Tripura alone has increased from Rs.164 crore during 2009-10 to Rs.258 crore in the last financial year. During the current fiscal (2011-12) up to December (last year) the trade further increased to Rs.232 crore and is expected to cross Rs.300 crore by March,” he added.

“The two countries had earlier decided to upgrade the existing 27 custom stations in Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram,” the minister said.

A delegation of Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has recently visited Dhaka and met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“Bangladesh prime minister (Sheikh Hasina) has responded positively to the ICC’s suggestion to open a deputy high commission office either in Guwahati or Shillong,” an ICC spokesperson said here.

“Hasina herself felt that opening of a consulate or deputy high commission office in the northeast would significantly contribute towards improving trade, business and tourism relations between the two countries, and would address several local issues, including visa related problems,” the ICC official added.