Photo : Collected
Despite having land ports, there is no opportunity to import and export all kinds of goods, as a result both Bangladesh and India are suffering. In order to ensure the import and export of all types of goods, the businessmen of Bangladesh and India have strongly demanded the relevant authorities of both countries to solve the existing problems. Haluaghat Gobrakura and Karyatli and Nakugaon land ports in Mymensingh, which are 175 km away from the capital Dhaka, will create a suitable environment for the import and export of all types of goods, a new horizon will begin in import and export. Both the people of the two countries will benefit from the import and export in the areas of the two countries at a short distance and at a low cost.
An exchange meeting of business representatives of Bangladesh and India on expansion of Bangladesh-India trade area and various possibilities was held on Saturday (June 29) at Bhasha Shaheed Abdul Jabbar Auditorium of Zilla Parishad, Mymensingh.
Due to the lack of free import and export of all types of goods in the provinces known as the Seven Sisters in the north-eastern border of India and the main land ports on the Bangladesh border, both countries are suffering from trade and commerce. As a result people of 7 states including Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur are affected.
The businessmen of both the countries have unitedly demanded to the relevant authorities of the governments of the two countries to solve the existing problems in order to create opportunities for import and export of all kinds of goods in the land ports of Mymensingh region.
Indian business representative Abdur Rashid sought the cooperation of the relevant authorities of Bangladesh to remove some obstacles to create opportunities for import and export of all kinds of goods at Gobarakura, Karaitli and Nakugao ports.
The Mymensingh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Bangladesh Assistant High Commission, Guwahati organiged the exchange meeting, and presided over by the president of the Mymensingh Chamber of Commerce and Industry Md. Aminul Haque Shamim.
Member of Parliament Mahmudul Haque Saeam was present as the chief guest, Mayor of Mymensingh City Corporation Ekramul Haque Titu inaugurated the event.
Welcome Speaker was Azharul Alam Trade and Protocol Officer, Bangladesh Assistant High Commission, Guwahati.
Indian business representative Abdur Rashid, Haluaghat Mayor Khairul Alam Bhuiyan spoke there.
Ikramul Haque Nabeen (Jamalpur), Ranjit Kumar Saha (Netrokona), Tora Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Insin Marak, Md. Suruj Ali (Haluaghat), Professor Apu (Gobrakura), Abdullah Al Mukhles Sumon (Dhanua-Kamalpur), Walton Company Representative Abdul Latif, Mymensingh Press Club General Secretary Amit Roy, Assam Karimganj Business Association Shamim Chowdhury, Freedom Fighter Mostafizur Rahman (Nankugao), Dipankar Sangma (Guwahati), Dr. Habibur Rahman Chowdhury (Guwahati), Akhi Sangma (Garo Hill), Kanan Chandra Chand (Sherpur), Abdus Shaheed, (Mankusa), Farooq Ahmed (Mahendraganj) etc. Mymensingh Chamber of Commerce and Industry Senior Vice President Shankar Saha moderated the discussion session.
Along with business leaders from the land ports of Greater Mymensingh, 40 businessmen from the states of Meghalaya and Assam, in addition to businessmen from Mymensingh Jamalpur Sherpur and Netrakona districts, participated in the exchange of views.
The chief guest of the program, Member of Parliament Mahmudul Haque Saeam said, the businessmen of Haluaghat are destitute today as they have not received the goods from the bank by taking a loan from the bank with a mortgage in the Land Bank while doing coal business with India.
MP Saeam said infrastructure is being built including widening Haluaghat road to four lanes. All opportunities will be provided to the businessmen of India to do business freely.
MP Saeam requested Mymensingh Chamber President Aminul Haque Shamim to work responsibly on how to increase business by coordinating businessmen of Mymensingh region and Indian businessmen through frequent meetings and discussions.
Mymensingh City Corporation Mayor Md. Ekramul Haque Titu said that if immigration is introduced at Haluaghat
There is great potential for trade, agriculture, education, cultural exchange and tourism between the two countries using the ports of Mymensingh region.
Aminul Haque Shamim said that India's golden opportunity in the field of stone and coal exports is being missed now while assuring necessary efforts to start immigration at Gobrakura and Karitli land ports at Haluaghat. This business is now moving to Dubai and Indonesia due to India's problems in importing stone and coal. Bangladesh imports a large amount of coal and stone from Indonesia every year.
Aminul Haque Shamim also said that at one time there was a bustling business of importing coal and stone in Haluaghat. At present, why the import and export is not increasing, the reasons should be found out and solved to increase the import and export again. There are opportunities to import from India such as spices, limestone, coal, fruits, cumin, cashew nuts etc.
On the other hand, there is an opportunity to export fish, dried fish, electronic products, garment products, cement, plastic products, including cow hilsa etc. from Bangladesh.
The former vice president of FBCCI assured that if the industrial entrepreneurs of the two countries are proactive, necessary measures will be taken to build industrial institutions with the investment of businessmen through major seminars or events by connecting FBCCI.
Chamber President Aminul Haque Shamim promised all kinds of cooperation on behalf of Mymensingh Chamber to restore vitality to the ports of Mymensingh division through export intelligence.
There was commission trade in import and export along the India Bangladesh border area, due to which import and export had been hampered in the past. All concerned should take necessary measures to prevent it from happening in the future.
Aminul Haque Shamim assured about Mymensingh region that there will be no syndicate and commission trade in import and export in this region. Along with this, all efforts will be made to deliver the export products on time.
The President of Mymensingh Chamber said, if we guarantee the problems in the field of export, the businessmen of India must also guarantee the resolution of the existing problems in their country. Indian traders will benefit more because India has a long list of export products.
Aminul Haque Shamim of India concerned said take initiative on your behalf, we will provide full cooperation on behalf of Bangladesh.
Many coal traders in Mymensingh are sitting on LC but Indian traders are not giving goods. These businessmen are now destitute by taking bank loans.
Messenger/Fameema
