The government is likely to give consent to set up four new haats (marketplace) along the Bangladesh-India border in the interest of stakeholders of both countries.
India proposed to set up 22 border haats along Bangladesh-Meghalaya border so that people of both countries could trade their products in the marketplaces.
“We have recommended setting up four border haats in the third phase and it would be finalised by a committee headed by an additional secretary of the cabinet division,” Commerce Ministry Deputy Secretary Mokabbir Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday.
The border haats are run under the Ministry of Commerce. As Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) keeps watch on the frontiers, its opinion is taken before the ministry’s recommendation.
“We have consented to set up four new border haats, with more in the offing,” BGB Director General Major General Aziz Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune at the secretariat on Thursday.
According to the Commerce Ministry, one border haat would be set up at Bholaganj under Sylhet district, another at Nalikata under Sunamganj, the third at Shibbari under Mymensingh and the fourth at Ryngku under Sunamganj.
Officials concerned said all proposals from India could not be accepted for various reasons including security.
India also proposed to set up two borer haats within half a kilometre, they said.
In the first phase, two border haats were set up along the Bangladesh-Meghalaya border, of which one was set up at Rajibpur under Kurigram and another at Sunamganj Sadar.
These two haats are running in full swing. The commerce ministry officials claim that these haats have contributed much to reining in smuggling.
Indian people sold agro-based items and various types of spices including ginger while the Bangladeshis home appliances and garment items, they added.
Bangladesh and India signed an agreement in 2011 to set up border haats in the interest of people of hard-to-reach areas alongside frontiers.
