Kalaichar (Meghalaya), July 29 (ANI): A traditional border haat (market) along the Indo-Bangla border was recently reopened after four decades at Kalaichar in Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district.
On July 24, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma and Bangladesh Commerce Minister Mohammad Faruk Khan, inaugurated Meghalaya's first border haat at Kalaichar.
The ministers also announced that more such border haats would be opened in Tripura and Meghalaya.
"There will be more border haats that will be coming up soon. The second border haat proposed at Balat on Indian side and Lauwaghar on Bangladesh side will also be inaugurated in September. There are two more proposals for Tripura," said Sharma.
"The trade may be small but it shows that both sides are not only thinking about the big trade but also about the people who are living in the areas that are inaccessible," said Faruk Khan.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the reopening of the border haat at Kalaichar district in 2010, 40 years after it was closed. The haats are beneficial for the people as they meet their daily needs.
Products like vegetables, fruits, spices, bamboo products, plough, axe, spade, chisel and other locally produced garments would be traded here.
The haat would operate within a 1.5-km radius of both sides of the border under close supervision of the border security forces of both the countries.
"Since 1970 we wanted the border trade between India and Bangladesh to grow. With opening of this border haat, we are very happy," said Abdul Kashyam, a local trader. he setting up of these border haats is yet another initiative to strengthen relations and economic ties between the two countries. (ANI)
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