Customs cooperation

Bangladesh and India have decided to leave two important land ports open seven days a week from January to support greater trade. The land customs stations at Benapole-Petrapole and Akhaura-Agartala will remain operational seven days a week from January 1.

This is a very effective masseur for both the countries. More hassle free customs rules will bring more business for both sides. Also trade deficit of Bangladesh with India will come down and India will get another business market.

The ninth Joint Group of Customs (JGC) also identified 16 stations as ‘high bilateral trade importance’ and agreed to take measures for synchronisation of working hours and days. It agreed on extending the car pass system to those stations to allow movement of trucks of the importing country for unloading cargo.

Hassle free and customs cooperation not only easier the business process, it also increases business volume in legal way. With will earn more tax income for both the country. Ans illegal efforts of the business will comedown.

Already Indian government made various Bangladesh’s products duty free. If Bangladesh government takes same effort then it will create more business friendly environment.

Both sides also greed to consult relevant stakeholders to simplify the travel in ‘Maitree Express,’ the lone direct train service between Dhaka and Kolkata. Hope fully this process will come very soon under the operation. This will be solid effort to strengthen bilateral relation between two countries.

A Chatterjee