SHILLONG: In order to strengthen the socio-economic relationship between Bangladesh and India, a two-member delegation from Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam (ITFAA) comprising of Vice-President Rajesh Das and Secretary Rajeev Das, met the Commerce Minister of Bangladesh Tofail Ahmed and submitted a memorandum requesting measures to boost trade and commerce between both the regions.
The delegation during the three day tour of Bangladesh starting from July 2 also paid visit to Maqsoodul Haque, one of the living legends of Bangladesh music who is very proud of his roots in Assam. During the hour long meeting at his music studio in central Dhaka, both the parties decided to join hands and initiate cultural exchange programs between both the countries.
Haque also played one of his yet to be released song based on the tunes of Assamese traditional music.
Interestingly, Assamese, Khashea, Jaintia, Manipuri, Tripuri, Garos, Chakmas communities in Bangladesh has been recognised as ethnic groups in the country.
Meanwhile, during the course of the meeting with Commerce Minister on July 2 at his office chamber, the delegation urged Ahmed to open a Bangladesh Trade Information Centre at Guwahati and expedite the proposed Dhaka-Guwahati air service by Biman Bangladesh, so that, business and trade receives impetus.
In order to promote each other’s culture and create positive image about both the countries, the delegation also requested the minister to take initiative to convince film production companies from Bangladesh to join hands with counterparts from North East India and co-produced bilingual films showcasing each other’s culture and society.
It may be mentioned that Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam (ITFAA) is the premiere and the oldest Trade Promotion agency from North East India working incessantly to bridge the gap between North East India and rest of the world.
To strengthen the connectivity between both the regions, the delegation also met the chairman of NOVOAIR, Arshad Jamal one of the premier airlines of Bangladesh to introduce flights between Dhaka and Guwahati. In this regard, he assured to send a team of experts very soon to Guwahati.
Md Faruk Khan, chairman of Parliamentary standing committee on ministry of civil aviation & tourism also assured the delegation that extensive preparation is on to connect Dhaka and Guwahati through air and road.
The delegation also met Managing Director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines A M Mosaddique Ahmed to chalk out strategies to increase traffic in the proposed flights between Bangladesh and Guwahati.
ITFAA is the first organisation from North East India to invite Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) to participate in International Guwahati Trade Fair in the year 2001. Since then, business community from Bangladesh is regularly visiting Assam and rest of the seven states of North East India like Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura regularly for trade and Commerce.