BHOLA. Feb 1 : Minister for Commerce and Industries To-fail Ahmed said here on Wednesday that the signing of the peace accord on Chittagong Hill Tracts had widened the scope of trade and foreign investment in the country, reports BSS.

The minister said that government was keen to ensure equal development of all parts of the country.

Addressing two separate rallies at Bhola sadar and Daulatkhan thanas the minister said the peace accord had brightened the image of Bangladesh abroad. He sought cooperation of all in implementing the peace accord and urged the people to remain alert against the propaganda of the vested quarters about the peace agreement.

The minister said that relentless efforts of the present government to boost trade and investment had started yielding benefits.

He said 21 per cent growth had been achieved in the export trade. The minister said that the government had taken several programmes to boost exports, The programmes, he said, included the identification of the priority export sectors and providing various Incentives for their development, creation of new international market for Bangladeshi products.