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Seek public opinion on transit to India

Trade analysts urge govt

Star Business Report
Trade analysts yesterday urged the government to seek public opinion on any plan to allow transit to India, an issue deemed sensitive to many.
It appears India will continue to do business with neighbouring countries, with or without Bangladesh approving transit for its next-door neighbour, they said.
The discussants held a brainstorming seminar on "Trade, Investment and Connectivity between Bangladesh and India" at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.
In fiscal 2007-08, India exported goods worth $3,375 billion to Bangladesh and imported $358.08 million worth of products from here, according to statistics from the seminar.
Informal trade between India and Bangladesh will be much more, the seminar was told.
"So, why aren't we taking the opportunity of mutual benefits from a transit relationship," said Syed Manzur Elahi, former caretaker government adviser.
The country's apex trade body, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) organised the seminar on the issue on the eve of Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee's arrival in Dhaka on February 8.
"If you don't be pragmatic right now about the
issue, one day India may show reluctance for transit. India will keep doing business anyway," Manzur Elahi said.
Shafi Sami, another former caretaker government adviser, said the present government has political willingness to allow transit to India, but it must seek public opinion before rushing into a deal.
"Joint venture investment plans are very important to enhance relationships with India," Sami said.
Former FBCCI president Salman F Rahman said that access to the Indian market is "hugely important" to Bangladesh.
"Indian products are dominating the local market. India is doing business even without the facility of transit, but we are sitting idle here with an antiIndian sentiment," Rahman said.
Mir Nasir Hossain, also former FBCCI president, said the non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and technical barriers to trade (TBTs) in trade
between the two countries should be removed through mutual understanding.
Executive Director of Centre for Policy Dialogue Mustafizur Rahman said the standards and certifications of the two countries should be recognised before finalisation of the transit issue.
"India should also remove the NTBs for Bangladesh," he said.
Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute MA Taslim said if Bangladesh could create a general investment climate the investment will arrive here not only from India, but also from the whole world.
Bangladesh Enterprise Institute Chairman Farooq Sobhan said a visa office should be established in the Assamese capital Gowhati to facilitate businessmen of Bangladesh to make trade with Indian south-eastern region.
FBCCI President Annisul Huq chaired the seminar.