[ALOCHONA] Govt may give India, China port transit

Govt may give India, China port transit         Asked about the yawning trade gap with New Delhi, the Commerce Minister said the trade gap is natural since India is a big country. Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee will come to Bangladesh early next month for bilateral discussion with the new government for updating the Dhaka-Delhi relations, reports UNB. Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty Monday revealed the tentative tour schedule and hinted that terrorism and transit in international trade would dominate the planned talks. Talking to reporters after paying a courtesy call on Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed at the secretariat, Pinak said his government''s main concern is to ensure security by eradicating terrorism. "There is no compromise on the issue of terrorism. We''ll jointly move against the terrorists in the subcontinent," said the Indian envoy, whose country has fought off some terrible terrorist onslaughts in recent times. Asked about port transit to India, he said it is not a political issue--India sought the transit to enhance trade between the two countries."If Bangladesh gives port transit to India and other countries in this subcontinent, Bangladesh can earn more revenues," Pinak said. Earlier UNB adds: The new government would take effective measures on emergency basis for determining maritime boundary with the neighbours and enhancing trade cooperation with eastern countries, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Hasan Mahmud said Saturday in Chittagong. He also told newsmen that the matter of giving port transit to seven-sister states of India and to China is under consideration of the government."The government will take any decision in this regard after considering country''s interest and sovereignty," the minister said in reply to a question about the issue of giving transit facilities through Chittagong seaport. About another Indian demand for return of ULFA guerillas he said decision on ULFA operatives and Bangladeshi terrorists arrested in India would be taken "on the basis of bilateral discussions". He further said that a ministerial meeting would be held soon where measures would be taken to make the missions abroad active for improving country''s image in the outer world. Dr Hasan offered fateha at the mazar of Shah Amanat and joined a meeting at Laldighi maidan in the afternoon. Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Col (retd) Farooq Khan Monday said Bangladesh would discuss unresolved issues, including imbalanced trade, with Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukharjee expected to be here early next month. "All unsettled issues will be put on the table for discussion in the greater interest of the country and we hope we''ll be able to resolve the issues through discussions," he told reporters at his Secretariat office. Asked about the yawning trade gap with New Delhi, the Commerce Minister said the trade gap is natural since India is a big country. He, however, said the government will focus on reducing the trade gap through intensive discussions.  "We want good relationship between the two countries to ensure economic development," he said. Diplomatic sources said the Indian External Affairs Minister is likely to visit Dhaka in the first week of February to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and formally hand over a felicitation letter from her Indian counterpart. Pranab is also expected to meet Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni and exchange views on bilateral issues http://www.newstoday-bd.com/frontpage.asp?newsdate=#16810

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