By Aminul Islam Mirja

  NEW DELHI, Feb 08, 2022 (BSS) - The Bangladesh and India commerce secretary
level meeting is likely to be held in first week of next month to discuss
various issues including removal of trade barriers and development of
infrastructures to boost bilateral trade.

  The meeting, which will be held in New Delhi, will focus on lifting of
anti-dumping duty on Bangladesh's jute products, India's recognition on BSTI
standard certificate on more products and removal of trade barriers, sources
familiar with the development told BSS yesterday.

  Dhaka has long been demanding lifting of anti-dumping duty imposed by New
Delhi on Bangladesh's jute products since 2017 for five years.

  Although the matter was prominently discussed in the last commerce
secretary level meeting held in Dhaka on March last year, but no significant
headway was made yet to this end.

  Bangladesh also wrote a formal letter to India's authority to withdraw the
duty, sources said.

   They, however, said that signing of Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Agreement (CEPA) and expansion of bilateral trade will be the top of the
agenda in the upcoming meeting.

   When contacted a highly placed source of Bangladesh side confirmed the
meeting date (first week of March) saying the earlier date, which was almost
fixed on February 17-18, has been shifted to March first week following
mutual understandings.

  He said Bangladesh Commerce Secretary and his Indian counterpart will lead
their respective sides in the meeting while representatives from the
ministries and departments concerned of both the countries will join.

  The last commerce secretary level meeting between the two countries was
held in March last year in Dhaka.

   Bangladesh commerce secretary Dr Md Jafar Uddin and Indian commerce and
industries secretary Anup Wadhawan led their respective sides.

  Giving details sources said that extensive discussions will also be held on
infrastructure development in border areas to boost bilateral trade, regional
connectivity initiatives, river routes development, removal of port
restrictions and sharing of trade data in the meeting.