Bangladesh and India have expressed their commitment to revitalising and expanding bilateral trade, following discussions between Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir and Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma in Dhaka on Monday.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat, the minister said both sides acknowledged that recent policy decisions taken by the two countries had created hurdles in trade flows. Issues such as the suspension of operations at certain Indian land ports, the closure of border haats and the withdrawal of trans-shipment facilities were raised during the talks.
Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said the meeting was primarily a courtesy call by the Indian envoy to greet the new government, but trade-related matters featured prominently in their discussions. The possibility of reopening some land ports and reviving cross-border markets was also explored.
He noted that both countries have imposed certain restrictions that have affected commercial exchanges and said there was a shared understanding of the need to reassess these measures.
According to the minister, the Indian high commissioner assured that the concerns would be conveyed to the relevant authorities in New Delhi, while Bangladesh would also review the matters at the cabinet level.
The minister clarified that Indian-funded development projects were not discussed during the meeting.
Responding to a separate question on potential fuel and food supply disruptions if the Strait of Hormuz is closed amid the Iran conflict, Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said shipping costs could increase but stressed that there is no immediate cause for alarm.
He added that the government stands ready to adopt alternative arrangements if necessary and confirmed that there is currently no shortage of essential goods in the country.
