‘Bilateral trade worth US $ 20 million will take place annually from the border haats’
By our Reporter
KALAICHAR (West Garo Hills), July 23: Union Minister of Commerce, Industry and Textiles Anand Sharma and his Bangladesh counterpart Muhammad Faruk Khan jointly inaugurated the border haat at Kalaichar in West Garo Hills district on Saturday.
Speaking on the occasion, Sharma said: “The haats will focus on the importance of restoring economic and commercial ties between the people living on both sides of the border.”
Kalaichar is about 70 km from Tura, the headquarters of West Garo Hills district, and is located close to Baliamari of Bangladesh’s Kurigram district.
Sharma also announced that the second border haat proposed at Balat on Indian side of the border and Lauwaghar in Bangladesh would also be inaugurated in October. “I am confident that the opening of border haats will make the border villages on both sides more prosperous through improved market accessibility for their locally produced goods. It is estimated that bilateral trade worth US $ 20 million will take place annually from the border haats,” he said.
It was an emotional moment when traders from both India and Bangladesh met with each other after 40 years. Once, a thriving centre of trade and commerce, the border haat was shut down after the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. Sharma recalled that during the recent visit of Indian External Affairs Minister to Bangladesh, the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) had been exchanged to facilitate two-way investment. The agreement aims at creating favourable conditions for fostering and encouraging investments between the two countries.
Both the countries have made significant move to develop the power sector, including establishment of grid, supply 500 MW of power from India out of which 250 MW will be at a preferential rate. India responded positively to Bangladesh’s request for the setting up of a high-technology joint venture thermal power plant of 1320 MW capacity at Khulna, and has completed the feasibility report.
“Going back to my childhood time, I remember people carrying goods in bullock carts and proceeding towards Kalaichar for trading with their Bangladesh counterparts. Jackfruit is the most popular product during those days,” said Mukul Sangma, Meghalaya Chief Minister, in his speech during an impressive function held at Kalaichar.
Speaking to a vendor from Baliamari, Mohammad Abul Kasham said that the border haat would help people supplement their income. He also said that till the early 1970s, traders from both sides had converged along the two border villages of Kalaichar and Baliamari to do business.
“In those days, people would sell cows, bulls, bamboo products and clothes. I had witnessed those days personally,” Kasham said.
“This haat today symbolizes the will of the people. It is also a symbol of friendship and brotherhood,” said Mohammad Faruk Khan, Bangladesh Commerce Minister, while speaking on the occasion.
The border haats aim at promoting the well-being of the people dwelling in remote areas across the borders of India and Bangladesh by establishing traditional system of marketing of local produce. They also aim at reducing informal trade and prevention of cross-border smuggling.
The commodities traded shall be locally produced vegetables, food items, fruits, spices, minor local forest produce like bamboo, bamboo grass, and broom sticks (excluding timber), products of local cottage industries like gamcha and lungi; small locally produced agriculture household implements like dao, plough, axe, spade and chisel; locally produced garments, melamine products, processed food items, fruit juice and others. Commodities are allowed to be exchanged in the designated border haats in local currency and or on a barter basis.
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