India and Bangladesh to increase LCS along the border

Agartala, Jul 6 (UNI) India and Bangladesh have decided to increase the Land Custom Stations (LCS), along the border, to facilitate bilateral trade between both the countries.

This was decided in a two-day meeting of the Indo-Bangladesh joint Working Group on Trade, which concluded here today.

At present there are 176 LCS along the border.

Ministry of Commerce MVPC Joint Secretary Sashtri proposed the matter, which has already been accepted by the Bangladeshi counterpart Elias Ahmed.

Terming the meeting as a "grand success", Mr Sashtri said that many more discussions had taken place between both the delegations for further strengthening of the border trade between India and Bangladesh.

''We have discussed the issues of strengthening the infrastructure related to trade,'' Sashtri said.

He further stressed the need for better rail and road connectivity between both the countries for the "smooth functioning" of trade.

The Indian Joint Secretary said the Centre has decided to reduce the tariff of export items to zero per cent with Bangladesh.

''This will help in breaking the existing "deadlock" related to exports of essential items between both the countries,'' said Sashtri.

The meeting also discussed about setting up of "border huts" along the border.

Earlier, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar had emphasised on speedy solution of the pending matters regarding the expansion of business between India and Bangladesh.

Mr Sarkar has expressed his views when the Indian delegation and the Bangladeshi counterpart called upon him yesterday.

Elias Ahmed expressed his satisfaction at the outcome of the two-day meeting and welcomed to his counterpart for the next round of meeting, which would be held later this year at Dhaka.

This is for the first time that such an important meeting involving India and Bangladesh has taken place in the North Eastern Region.

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