Fresh MoU on ‘border haats’ likely during PM’s Delhi visit

A fresh memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the expansion of popular ‘border haats’ along the Bangladesh-India border is on the anvil.
The MoU is scheduled to be signed during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to New Delhi from April 8 to 10.
The additional secretary of the commerce ministry, Shafiqul Islam, told The Independent that the fresh MoU would be for five years instead of three years, the time-frame of the previous one.
The number of vendors in each 'border haat' would also be increased to 50 from the present 25, and the permissible value of purchases would be doubled to USD 200 per person.
The agreement between India and Bangladesh, signed in October 2010 for setting up 'border haats', expired in 2013. However, four such markets continue to operate and six more are to be established soon, he added.
Shafiqul Islam said the border markets were aimed at creating a traditional system of marketing local products in local markets in local currency or on the basis of barter, thereby promoting people’s well-being in remote areas on both sides of the border.
"Since October 2, 2013, the 'border haats' have been functioning in good faith, as the three-year period mentioned in the agreement had expired,” he said.
Trading can be done in these weekly markets in both Indian and Bangladeshi currencies.
"The setting up of the ‘border haats’ is one of the ways to further boost India-Bangladesh relations through people-to-people contact,” he added.
During Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in January 2010, it was agreed that such markets should be set up as pilot projects in selected places along the border with India to allow trade in specified products in accordance with the regulations agreed upon by the two governments.
Accordingly, Bangladesh and India signed an MoU in October 2010.
The two countries opened their first 'border haat' at Kalaichar next to the Bangladesh-India border in the north-eastern Indian state of Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district in 2011, reviving a traditional border trade after nearly 40 years.
The two countries have already agreed to set up 10 more such markets and the process to set up six of them has already been initiated. Four of them will be established along the border in Meghalaya and two in Tripura.
Various infrastructural issues relating would be incorporated in the new MoU, ministry sources said.
The new six ‘border haats’ will be set up at Juri (Moulvibazar)–Palbasti (Tripura); Kamolgaj (Moulvibazar)– Kamalpur (Tripura); Volaganj (Sylhet)–Volaganj (Meghalaya); Saidabad (Sunamganj)– Nalikata (Meghalaya); Bhuiyanpara (Mtmensingh)–Shibbari (Meghalaya); Baganbari (Sunamganj)–Rinku (Meghalaya).

Fresh MoU on border haats likely during PMs Delhi visit

A fresh memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the expansion of popular border haats along the Bangladesh-India border is on the anvil. The MoU is scheduled to be signed during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas visit to New Delhi from April 8 to 10. The additional secretary of the commerce ministry, Shafiqul Islam, told The Independent that the fresh MoU would be for five years instead of three years, the time-frame of the previous one. The number of vendors in each border haat would also be increased to 50 from the present 25, and the permissible value of purchases would be doubled to USD 200 per person. The agreement between India and Bangladesh, signed in October 2010 for setting up border haats, expired in 2013. However, four such markets continue to operate and six more are to be established soon, he added. Shafiqul Islam said the border markets were aimed at creating a traditional system of marketing local products in local markets in local currency or on the basis of barter, thereby promoting peoples well-being in remote areas on both sides of the border. Since October 2, 2013, the border haats have been functioning in good faith, as the three-year period mentioned in the agreement had expired, he said. Trading can be done in these weekly markets in both Indian and Bangladeshi currencies. The setting up of the border haats is one of the ways to further boost India-Bangladesh relations through people-to-people contact, he added. During Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas visit to India in January 2010, it was agreed that such markets should be set up as pilot projects in selected places along the border with India to allow trade in specified products in accordance with the regulations agreed upon by the two governments. Accordingly, Bangladesh and India signed an MoU in October 2010. The two countries opened their first border haat at Kalaichar next to the Bangladesh-India border in the north-eastern Indian state of Meghalayas West Garo Hills district in 2011, reviving a traditional border trade after nearly 40 years. The two countries have already agreed to set up 10 more such markets and the process to set up six of them has already been initiated. Four of them will be established along the border in Meghalaya and two in Tripura. Various infrastructural issues relating would be incorporated in the new MoU, ministry sources said. The new six border haats will be set up at Juri (Moulvibazar)Palbasti (Tripura); Kamolgaj (Moulvibazar) Kamalpur (Tripura); Volaganj (Sylhet)Volaganj (Meghalaya); Saidabad (Sunamganj) Nalikata (Meghalaya); Bhuiyanpara (Mtmensingh)Shibbari (Meghalaya); Baganbari (Sunamganj)Rinku (Meghalaya).