NEW DELHI,  – The Chief Minister of the Indian state of Assam Sarbananda Sonwal has called for regular contacts between the India- Bangladesh trade representatives and exporters for removing barriers in export import sector to boost bilateral trade.

“Regular communication and contacts among the trade representatives and people directly involved with export and import between the two countries are crucial to ease bilateral trade and removing barriers in import-export sector,” he said.

The CM of Assam has expressed the views when Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Muhammad Imran called on him at his residence on Friday, when they discussed various bilateral issues with special focus on export and import and bilateral trade. During the meeting, the Bangladesh envoy referred to the present economic progress achieved by Bangladesh during the last couple of years under the able leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Bangladesh’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“Bangladesh has gone a long way towards economic progress during the last couple of years and now remains on strong position economically,” he said. In this connection, he put emphasis on enhancing people to people contacts between the two countries through youth and cultural exchange programmes to let the people of the Indian state of Assam know how Bangladesh has achieved the progress especially in economic sector.

Earlier on Thursday, High Commissioner Imran visited Assam and Meghalaya to witness various important establishments built there under Bangladesh-India joint initiatives. As part of his visit, the Bangladesh envoy also paid a courtesy call on Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Prestone Tynsong at the latter’s office.

During the meeting, the High Commissioner laid emphasis on different bilateral issues including further expansion of cooperation in various sectors between the two countries. The Bangladesh High Commissioner saw himself the various activities of Dawki-Tamabil custom port immigration centres on Thursday and exchanged views with the local government representatives, lime exporters and custom officials there.

During his four-day tour in the two Indian north-eastern states, the Bangladesh High Commissioner paid courtesy calls on Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and visiting Indian Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. He also met Governor of Assam Jagadish Mukhi on Tuesday and Governor of Meghalaya Sattya Paul Malik on yesterday (Wednesday).