AGARTALA, June 9 (TIWN): The border trade between India and Bangladesh through Tripura corridor has come up as a great boon for the Tripura Left front Government with the second border haat, eyeing forward to bring another boon for the state as well as for Bangladesh and other North Eastern states of the country.

Tripura’s Kamalasagar haat, the second in Tripura and fourth in NE region would be bustling with trade activities. State industry body says - thanks to the new ‘border haat’ that will be opened from June 11 in state’s Sipahijala district, which borders Brahmanbaria district of Bangladesh, to boost bilateral trade between India and the neighbouring country.

India and Bangladesh have been working together to increase and improve cross-border trading between these two countries. Specifically, each nation has sought to develop ‘border haats’ or markets. Talking to TIWN on Tuesday Additional District Magistrate, Sepahijala District of the state (ADM) D K Chakma said, “People of both the countries are eagerly waiting for the second border haat of Tripura, set up to trade with Bangladesh and vice versa.”

“We are always ready to accept the products of other countries especially the products of Bangladesh,” Chakma said to TIWN. The ‘haat’ was built by the Ministry of Commerce at an approximate cost of Rs. 2.5 crores.

“This will obviously have a positive effect on relations between these two nations. People of both nations, who have great regard for each other but are unable to express it, will be able to express it through border haats and further can grow their relations,” he said.

He also added, “We would propose the Government if the demand of other products can be introduced at the trade between these two countries.” At present it has been learnt that Bangladesh products are arriving very low here in Tripura but the state is always ready to accept more products from Bangladesh, he said.

“There has been increasing demand of Indian textiles from Bangladeshi traders and Indian traders also expressed good interest in food items from the neighbouring country. The opening of the border haat will surely give a boon to these sectors,” Chakma maintained.

As per the arrangements made by the Director General of Foreign Trade under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between India and Bangladesh, business in the haat would take place once a week among the people living within 5 km radius of the border who would sell and buy locally produced goods and crops.

Asked about the chance of smuggling during the border trade Chakma said, “Smuggling of contraband items like phensydeals which are highly valuable in Bangladesh and are demanded high there is strictly prohibited.” Adding to that Chakma said, “According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it is strictly prohibited and the Indian Govt. is looking forward to reduce the smuggling of those items.”

In regard of the impact of the trade Chakam also said, “We have received a major impact from the first border haat at Srinagar bordering area with the vendors and the vendees and other publics are seen much interested in the trade between these two countries.” Upbeat with the responses received in the haat at Srinagar in South Tripura, the traders are hopeful of doing more business, Chakma said to TIWN on Tuesday.

He said “For this haat at Kamalasagar we have to at least wait for one month to learn the impact of the trade because by two or three days we cannot explore the real entity.”

Two border haats were set up in 2012, on the Meghalaya sector of Indo-Bangladesh border – one at Kalaichar in Meghalaya`s West Garo Hills district and Baliamari of Bangladesh`s Kurigram district, and another in Balat (in East Khasi Hills district) and Lauwaghar (Dalora) in Bangladesh`s Sunamganj district.

Earlier this year, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had jointly inaugurated Tripura’s first ‘border haat’ in Srinagar – about 140 km south of state capital Agartala. The Tripura government had proposed to set up eight border haats, however, it was agreed to set up only four.