Bangladesh, Nepal keen to boost bilateral trade

Bangladesh and Nepal are actively pursuing ways to enhance their bilateral trade relations, as evidenced by recent discussions between visiting Bangladesh's State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and Nepalese Commerce Minister Damodar Bhandari. 

Their meeting, held at a hotel in Nepal, centered around various issues of mutual interest, with a particular focus on improving connectivity between the Banglabandha port in Bangladesh and Nepal's Kakarbhita port, as well as the expansion of trade between the two nations.
During the discussions, Minister Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury highlighted the geographical proximity of Kakarbhita port to Banglabandha, pointing out that despite being only 37 kilometers away, the land between them belongs to India. The ministers explored possibilities for Nepal to access Bangladesh directly through this route, with plans for collaborative efforts involving Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. This initiative aims to facilitate smoother trade interactions and bolster economic ties between the neighboring countries.
Prior to the meeting in Nepal, Minister Chowdhury visited the Phuentsholing border in Bhutan, passing through the Banglabandha Land Port in Panchagarh district and the Phulbari land port in Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, India. At the Phuentsholing border, he was warmly welcomed by Governor Karmi Jurmi and engaged in discussions regarding trade expansion, particularly focusing on the Pasakha land port.
The significance of Banglabandha's proximity to Bhutan's border was also highlighted during the visit, emphasizing its potential as a gateway for enhancing trade activities between Bangladesh and Bhutan. With Banglabandha being only 142 kilometers away from Phuentsholing, there is considerable scope for strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries through improved trade routes and infrastructural developments.