Bangla, India could ink border haat deal during Hasina visit

Anisur Rahman
Dhaka, Nov 23 (PTI) Bangladesh and India might soon allow
makeshift bazaars to come up in frontier villages and an
agreement to this effect is likely to be signed during Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina's forthcoming visit to Indian national
capital New Delhi.
The "border haats" proposal was mooted by India to ease
the hardships of people residing in either side of the border,
particularly in hilly frontiers, The Financial Express
newspaper said Monday.
A senior foreign ministry official confirmed the report,
saying a process was earlier initiated to assess the
feasibility in line with an Indian proposal to finalise
details of the deal ahead of the premier's visit.
Hasina is set to fly to New Delhi on December 18 on a
three-day visit in her first tour to India since assuming the
prime minister's office early this year.
Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pinak Ranjan
Chakravarty earlier this year suggested launching of border
trade of small items between designated frontier village
"haats" (bazaars) on pilot project basis under the supervision
of paramilitary frontier guards of the two countries.
India has preferred barter to cash transaction for the
proposed trade with a view to checking any illegal money
exchange. PTI