"There are many bilateral problems among us. India needs to take the lead in resolving the issues through discussions," the prime minister said addressing a meeting of business leaders of Bangladesh and Tripura at Pragna Bhavan in the evening.
Hasina said her government is willing to procure electricity from Tripura to meet the growing demand in Bangladesh.
"We are interested to procure electricity from Tripura, directly or on partnership basis," she said.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) jointly arranged the meeting in cooperation with the Tripura government.
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Indian Union Minister for Human Resources Development Kapil Sibal, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarker and Industries Minister Jitendra Chowdhury, FBCCI president AK Azad and CII official Shekhar Dutta also spoke on the occasion.
Mentioning that there is immense potential in the information technology (IT) and telecommunication sectors, Hasina urged businessmen from both Bangladesh and India to tap the potentials and derive their benefit.
She said the mutual cooperation depends on the political will of the two governments. "Presently, this political will is prevailing among us," she said.
The prime minister hoped that the businessmen will come forward to implement the political will of the two governments to benefit the people of Bangladesh and India, especially Tripura.
She said the governments of Bangladesh and India have taken steps introducing 'border haat' to facilitate the growers to get fair price of their products.
The two countries are working to remove the non-tariff barriers and improve the facilities at the land ports, she added.
Hasina urged the Indian investors to make more investment in Bangladesh and also requested the business community of Tripura to import goods from Bangladesh in a big way.
Citing the long standing trade imbalance between India and Bangladesh, she thanked the Indian prime minister for recently withdrawing duty on 46 garment items of Bangladesh in Indian market, which was followed by allowing duty-free access of all items under SAFTA agreement.
The decision has created an opportunity for access of Bangladeshi products to the Indian market at competitive prices, she added.
The prime minister said Bangladesh is the biggest importer of Indian goods in South Asia. Bangladesh's import from India amounts to over US$ 3 billion per year against its meager export of $ 250 million.
She said decisions have already been taken to allow transporting goods to India from Chittagong and Mongla sea ports as well as the use of Ashuganj river port for carrying cargos to Tripura via Akhaura-Agartala.
She mentioned that the decision that allows transporting cargos to Palatana power plant in Tripura is putting immense pressure on the existing infrastructures of Bangladesh.
Hasina said the Bangladesh government has also taken the decision to establish rail link between Akhaura and Agartala, and construct a bridge over the Feni River, apart from constructing a new land port at Sagrom-Ramgarh point.
Emphasising improved connectivity for enhancing bilateral relations, she said the geographical location of Bangladesh is very important for road, rail, waterways and air communications.
The prime minister also recalled that during her previous tenure from 1996-2001, direct bus services from Dhaka-Kolkata and Dhaka-Agartala were launched.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Agartala on a 2-day visit to the Indian state of Tripura by a special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines at about 3:10 pm (local time) at Singerbhil Airport here.
The Union Minister for Human Resources Development of India Kopil Sibal, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and Industries Minister Jatindra Chowdhury received her at the Singerbhil Airport.
After the ceremonial reception, Sheikh Hasina was taken to the state guesthouse at Kunjaban township where she will be staying during her visit.
During her stay in Tripura, Hasina will attend the convocation of Tripura University and discuss boosting trade at a meeting with the business community.
Source: thefinancialexpress-bd.com
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