Border markets will open on a pilot basis between Bangladesh and India on Pahela Baishakh, the Bangla New Year, to facilitate trade between the two countries' people living in remote frontier areas.
Primarily, three border points have been selected for the markets which will be set up encompassing 50 metres of areas on both sides of the border from respective zero points.
The markets will be set up at the border points between Sonarhat under Goain Ghat in Sylhet and Linkhat in India; between Lawar Ghar under Taherpur upazila in Sunamganj and Kalia Char in India; and between Balia Bari under Bajitpur upazila in Kurigram and Naliakata in India.
Special mechanisms will be put in place including barbed wire fencing of the markets to make sure shoppers return to their own countries, but they will need no visa to enter the border markets, officials of Bangladesh foreign ministry said.
"Necessary formalities will be completed before opening the border markets," said a news release from Bangladesh commerce ministry.
The decision was taken after an elaborate discussion between Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Rajeet Mitter and Bangladesh Commerce Minister Faruk Khan when the former called upon the latter in Bangladesh Secretariat yesterday.
The decision follows an Indo-Bangladesh summit which in a joint communiqué agreed to establish border markets on a pilot basis at selected areas, including at the Meghalaya border, to allow cross-border trade in specific products in accordance with the regulations agreed upon by both governments.
Border markets are much expected among the people on both sides of the border living in remote enclaves and hilly areas, as they find it difficult to buy and sell products needed in everyday life.
The commodities to be sold in the border markets are local agricultural products, fresh and dry fish, poultry, spices, forest products, dairy, and products of local cottage industries including furniture, utensils, and iron agricultural equipment.
In a meeting of Bangladesh-India Joint Working Group, India had proposed setting up 22 border markets. What is now the border between the two countries, used to be dotted by markets when India was undivided, some of which continued to exist until the independence of Bangladesh.
The two countries share a border of 4,096 kilometres. In 2008-'09 India imported products of $277 million from Bangladesh, while Bangladesh imported products of $2,843 million from India, according to the commerce ministry news release. Trade experts of both countries however believe unofficial trade between the two countries surpasses the volume of official trade.
During yesterday's meeting, Rajeet Mitter and Faruk Khan hoped that the two countries will be able to implement the measures mentioned in the joint communiqué in the next six months to expand bilateral trade.
Joint Secretary to Bangladesh Commerce Ministry Dr Md Ruhul Amin Sarker and First Secretary to the Indian High Commission Susil Singhal were also present during the meeting.
Bangladesh and India signed the joint communiqué during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to New Delhi last month.
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