Bangladesh wants investment of Indian cos

Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh wants the investment of the Indian companies including TATA to increase the bilateral cooperation and take the relations of the two friendly countries to a new height.
Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque requested it when Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma met him at the Secretariat on Thursday.
“We have requested the Indian High Commissioner regarding the investment of Indian companies including TATA in our country,” Dr Razzaque told the journalists after the bilateral meeting.
About the enhancement of employment in agriculture sector, he said, “We need international cooperation in agriculture sector. India is providing assistance here.”
Mentioning the increase of onion production, the agriculture minister said, “We are witnessing bumper production of onions this time. We are trying to import onion seeds from Indian State of Maharastra. As both countries share almost same weather, we have the opportunity to take their support.”
In reply to a query, he said, “We did not import much onion this year. We had a good harvest last April. Our major problem we don’t have sufficient scope for storing. We would not have faced trouble, if we had the storage facilities.”
The High Commissioner said that India and Bangladesh are working together on food security for both countries.
“Food security is a major concern. Both the countries are working on it. We are providing support to the citizens of Bangladesh in this regard,” he said.
The Agriculture Minister further said that the government wanted to go for commercialisation in agriculture for earning foreign currencies.
“We import cashew. But we have seen that it can be planted in the hill tract districts. India is ahead of us in this regard. The southern part of India produces huge nuts. We are bringing saplings from there. I believe it can be a great source for export. We have also possibility of coffee cultivation,” he said.
The minister further said that the government has been providing logistic supports in agriculture and the farmers are being benefited out of this.
“India is much ahead of us. Most of our agricultural inputs including tractors come from India,” he mentioned.
About the meeting discussion, he said that both of them have talked about bilateral relations and cooperation including agriculture, agricultural inputs, agro processing, climate tolerant agriculture, bio-technology and nanotechnology in agriculture.
In reply to a query of the embezzlement of 27 thousand metric tonnes of fertilizers imported by the government, the agriculture minister said that the matter was embarrassing.
“We are investigating it. If the fertilizers are not found in the warehouses, the responsible persons will be brought under law,” he said.
It is alleged that that Messrs Poton Traders, a contracting firm responsible for transportation, had embezzled the entire 72,000 metric tonnes of fertlisers (imported by the government) after releasing it from the port, instead of sending to the government warehouses. As a result, the government has incurred a loss of Tk 582 crore.
The High Court has directed Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) to make an explanation over embezzlement of 72,000 metric tonnes of fertilisers.
Regarding the foreign interference in the internal issues of Bangladesh, Dr Razzaque said, “The foreign envoys’ interference has been decreased compared with the past events. Once ambassadors like Harry K Thomas used to think oneself a king. Now such situation is no longer.”
The minister also commented on the recent political situation in the country, saying that “BNP could not topple the government by holding rallies and resorting to arson attack, hartal, strike and movement.”
Mentioning BNP’s upcoming nationwide sit-in rally on December 11, he sid, “BNP will not be able to topple the government by that time.”
Awami League Presidium Member Dr Razzaque said that his party members would remain vigilant in the field to resist any king of anarchy in the name of BNP’s movement. “Party workers will assist the law enforcers and the government in this regard.”