Bangladesh-India Foreign Office Consultations between the Foreign Secretaries was held in New Delhi recently. The two noted with satisfaction that there had been considerable progress in implementing the decisions taken at the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) for further expansion of cooperation between the two countries for mutual benefit.
While M Mijarul Quayes, Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh led the 11-member Bangladesh delegation, Ranjan Mathai, Foreign Secretary of India, led the Indian delegation in the parley. The two also reviewed the progress in the bilateral relations between the two countries since the 1st JCC meeting held in New Delhi on May 7.
Mijarul noted the increase in trade and investment between the two countries following the granting of zero duty access to all Bangladesh goods (except 25 items on the Negative List) by India.
The talks also raised issues of security and border management, noting that the implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) by the BGB and the BSF had helped reduce cross-border illegal activities.
Other issues that also came up for discussion included the rail-road ‘connectivity’ between the two countries like Akhaura-Agartala rail link, use of Chittagong and Mongla Ports by India, use of Ashuganj Port as a transshipment point for movement of goods to the North-East, commencement of Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati bus service, among others.
