Top-level officials of India and Bangladesh yesterday inaugurated the first-ever official border haat on the no-man's land here in efforts to bring economic benefits to the people of the area.
The inauguration comes nine months after the neighbouring countries signed agreements to set up two border haats.
Ministers, members of parliament, high officials of district administration and border forces and distinguished invitees from either side attended the ceremony.
As Commerce Minister Faruk Khan and his Indian counterpart Anand Sharma hoisted the national flags, children from Bangladesh sang their national anthem and a band of Indian border guards played theirs.
Around 500 people from the two countries were allowed in the small haat area, approximately the size of two football pitches.
The ceremony was enlivened by colourful tribal dances, songs and beats of drums. Thousands of people including children gathered on the bank of the river Zinziram on the Bangladesh side and watched the function from a distance.
While the jawans of Indian Border Security Force and Border Guard Bangladesh shook hands and cracked jokes, 50 authorised vendors from both sides sat in their stalls to sell their produce and other merchandise. Some sold ready-made clothes, fish and vegetables while some others paans (betel leaf) and melamine items.
The buyers on the first day were mainly the security and administrative staffs who came to the haat accompanying the VVIPs.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister of Meghalaya Mukul M Sangma said he grew up in the region and as a child he witnessed how people of the two countries traded with one another without fear. The main trade activity of the tribal people in Meghalaya strip was with their Bangalee neighbours.
He spoke of great potential of trade between the two countries in this region and said, "I am grateful to the leaderships of Bangladesh and India for restarting the haat.
"The port of Chittagong is only a seven-hour drive from Meghalaya border. In future, people of this region could have access to international trade through good relationship with Bangladesh."
Commerce Minister Faruk Khan termed the occasion a historic moment.
"This haat is a symbol of our friendship. It will not only boost economic growth but also strengthen our relationship," he added.
"We have sea ports and I believe all the people in the region [who need access to sea ports] will be able to use our ports for economic development," said Faruk.
The minister thanked India for its help during the Liberation War.
Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma said trading along the borders has been part of the tradition and heritage of the two countries.
"Access to Chittagong port will open up huge possibilities for the people of this region," he observed.
Sharma added: "With our huge population we have to remember that our countries will have to sustain high growth potentials.
"India has the largest middle class and a big number of poor people. For historical reasons they remained deprived and marginalised. It will be a mistake if we do not mobilise and redistribute resources now for the generations to come."
The Baliamari-Kalaierchar border haat will sit on Wednesdays. The summer timing for the haat will be 9:30am to 3:30pm while in winter from 9:30am to 2:30pm.
The commodities sold here will be free of duty, while traders can use Bangladeshi Taka and Indian Rupees and/or barter system for the transaction. The estimated value of such purchases shall not exceed respective local currency equivalent of $50 for any particular day.
Soruce : The Daily Star
