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Tripura offers power for connectivity

Chief minister urges both countries to sit soon, resolve problems

Staff Correspondent
The Indian north-eastern state Tripura is ready to offer 100 megawatt of electricity to Bangladesh and increase the number of land customs stations to boost trade.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar yesterday said 726MW of electricity would be generated from the gas-fired Palatana Thermal Power Plant for the time being.
Tripura will get 200MW while the rest will be sent to the Indian national grid.
“If Bangladesh government can win the heart of Indian central government through negotiations, we are ready to offer 100MW of electricity from our portion [Tripura's 200MW],” he said while addressing businessmen of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) at Sonargaon Hotel during a lunch meeting.
The FBCCI hosted the lunch in honour of the four chief ministers of Indian states. The four had come to Dhaka with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Manik Sarkar said power generation of the plant will increase to 2.000MW in future as different studies show that Tripura has huge gas reserves.
He said Tripura is also ready to increase the number of land customs stations along its borders with Bangladesh, from the existing seven, to boost trade with Bangladesh.
Sarkar also said waiving of tariff on the export of 46 garment items is not everything. "Both the governments should sit soon to simplify the process so that the 46 garment products could be
exported smoothly,” he said.
At the same time, Bangladesh should facilitate Indian states so that they can use the Chittagong and Mongla ports soon for transport of goods, he added.
Sarkar urged Bangladesh to join hands with seven north-eastern states of India, Nepal and Bhutan and build a tourism circuit like Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand has done.
At the meeting, Chief Minister of Meghalaya state Mukul Sangma urged promotion of trade and commerce between Bangladesh and the north-eastern states of India.
“We are ready to actively participate to explore the opportunities of this region for future generations, like in health and education sectors,” he said.
Chief Minister of Mizoram state Lal Thanhawla thanked
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for stopping border insurgency. “Earlier, the insurgents used to create trouble in the bordering areas, but it has stopped now,” he said.
Chief Minister of Assam state Tarun Gogoi said, “We have to increase the connectivity. We have to increase the people to people contact in this region. It might take a bit of time. But it is possible to increase trade and commerce through increasing connectivity.”
Bangladesh Finance Minister AMA Muhith said, “We need to eliminate the distrust between us. We need regional collaboration...We can ensure welfare of a vast population of this region by increasing trade.”
Welcoming the Indian move for approving duty-free entry of 46 garment products, Commerce Minister of
Bangladesh Faruk Khan said trade should be used as a tool for development of this region. “But, the Indian government should also remove all non-tariff barriers,” he said.
FBCCI President AK Azad said, “We suggest opening of a land port at Demagiri to provide opportunities to north eastern states of India as well as Bangladesh for export and import of forest products and other goods. On energy cooperation, we call for taking immediate steps to formulate an energy trade agreement between Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan.”
Abdul Matlub Ahmed, president of India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI), said billions of dollars could be invested in different sectors if both countries work together.