Bangladesh and Myanmar have discussed increasing bilateral trade, reopening border trade and speeding up Rohingya repatriation. The issues came up at a meeting on Sunday between Commerce Minister Khondkar Abdul Muktadir and Myanmar’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Kyaw Soe Moe, at the Secretariat.
A commerce ministry press release said the meeting also discussed increasing imports and exports between the two countries, direct shipping links, LNG imports and the scope for expanding mutual investment.
The commerce minister said Bangladesh was committed to further strengthening ties with neighbouring countries on the basis of mutual respect, trust and economic cooperation. Matters relating to trade, transport, investment and border connectivity would be reviewed through the necessary inter-ministerial coordination, he said.
The minister added that trade between the two countries could be increased further by making use of their geographical proximity and existing potential.
The Myanmar ambassador spoke in favour of reopening border trade. He said that reviving the long-suspended border trade would benefit traders and ordinary people in both countries, and that the activity could, if necessary, be restarted initially on a limited scale.
The meeting stressed expanding trade in various promising goods, including agricultural products, fish products, rice, medicine and frozen food. Importance was also placed on increasing direct business-to-business (B2B) contact.
The question of Rohingya repatriation was also discussed. The commerce minister stressed the need to create a favourable environment quickly for the voluntary, safe, sustainable and dignified repatriation of the Rohingya sheltering in Bangladesh, saying Bangladesh was pressing for visible progress on the issue.
In response, the Myanmar ambassador said the list received for repatriation was being verified, and that the repatriation process would move forward once the security situation became favourable.
The two sides also agreed on some other points: holding regular joint committee meetings, holding the next meeting in Bangladesh, and quickly finalising a proposed agreement to launch direct waterway and shipping links.
Both sides said that launching direct waterway links would cut transport costs and time and significantly increase bilateral trade.
Commerce Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Khan, Additional Secretary (FTA) Ayesha Akhtar and Myanmar embassy counsellor Myat Lwin were present at the meeting.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report