India assures Bangladesh that the incidents of Border Security Force firing along the border will be brought to zero; Bangladesh aims export to India to increase to $ 1 bn by June this year; Bangladeshi businessmen urges Indian high commission in Dhaka to
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    • According to reports, India assured Bangladesh that efforts were on to bring down the incidents of Border Security Force firing along the border to zero and that the issue with the proposed treaty on Teesta water sharing would be resolved. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh conveyed this to Bangladesh Home Minister Shahara Khatun, who called on him at his residence in New Delhi on February 24, 2012.1

    In another development, according to reports, armed with a duty-free facility to India, Bangladesh is aiming for $1 billion in exports by June this year. A Mutlub Ahmad, President of India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry said "With duty-free export to India, we expect Bangladeshi export to increase to $1 billion by June 2012 from $500 million last year,". He made these remarks on the sidelines of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Business Forum meet in Kolkata. 2

    According to reports, Bangladeshi businessmen urged the Indian high commission in Dhaka to simplify the visa procedures and remove trade barriers to minimise the widening trade gap with the neighbour. They also demanded to issue Indian visas for them within 24 hours of application, and good behaviour from the visa officers at the Indian high commission in Dhaka. They spoke at a discussion with Acting Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Sanjay Bhattacharya at the office of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) in Dhaka. 3

    Reports noted that the Indian government ordered an investigation into the circumstances leading to the collapse of two sluice gates of Farakka Barrage which allegedly are allowing excess water flow into Bangladesh. The decision came a day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had raised the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Indian Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal told reporters on February 23, 2012 that RC Jha, chairman of Central Water Commission (CWC), would look into the reasons behind the collapse of gates 13 and 16 and suggest corrective measures. Jha was asked to submit his report to the ministry within the next 15 days. 4

    In other developments, according to reports, despite strong opposition from within, the government has moved to cancel the loan deal for the Padma bridge project with the World Bank to clear the way for an agreement with Malaysia or other potential donors. A high-level meeting at the Prime Minister's Office last week made a "verbal decision" to cancel the $1.2-billion deal, said an official of the Economic Relations Department (ERD). 5

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