DHAKA: Signaling the new momentum in bilateral ties, Bangladesh decided to open additional diplomatic missions in the neighboring country India.

Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni told Khabar South Asia, "We decided to open three more missions after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina`s historic visit to Delhi in 2010 after which we decided to allow India to use Chittagong port for its northeastern states.”

The first of the new missions, in Mumbai, was launched in August. It will provide services to eight southern Indian states. In addition to spurring investment and economic links, Bangladesh hopes the Mumbai mission will help speed up repatriation of women and girls trafficked into India.

Samina Naz, a career diplomat, has been appointed Deputy High Commissioner to Mumbai and heads the newly-opened bureau. Speaking to Khabar, she said the focus will be on "facilitating Indian businessmen from Mumbai and southern states who are willing to exploit the advantages the local businessmen enjoy as a Least-Developed Country (LDC) for export to other countries."

Ambassador Ashfaqur Rahman, head of the Centre for Foreign Affairs Studies added: “In many cases, businessmen from southern states cannot get proper information on the business opportunities in Bangladesh. And they do not feel encouraged to go to Delhi for this because of the long distance."

He also said: "The new mission can be of great help for businessmen from Mumbai and other southern states to know about the opportunities Bangladesh offers as well as hassle-free visa facilities for them.”

Bangladesh business leaders expressed optimism about the new diplomatic outpost.

Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, a former president of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Khabar, "Mumbai businessmen have expertise in IT, textiles, banking, capital market and other sectors. The new mission can liaison with the Mumbai Chamber of Commerce for possible investment in Bangladesh.”

Rahman said the Mumbai mission would also address the plight of trafficked Bangladeshi girls and women, many of whom languish for years in jails or safe houses after being caught. Usually, overburdened mission officials in New Delhi cannot immediately go to Mumbai and arrange for their return home.

Salma Ali, chief of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association, which works with trafficked women and children, told that the new Mumbai deputy mission would be a help to her organisation and other assisting non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

She further said "In many cases we saw that the officials from the Bangladesh mission in New Delhi could not meet the victims in Mumbai or Pune as they were sometimes overburdened with other works.”

She added: "Again, funds crises sometimes slowed down the repatriation process. Unless the embassy officials meet them, the repatriation process cannot start."

In addition to Mumbai, Bangladesh has three existing consular offices in India -- in New Delhi, Kolkata and Agartala, in the eastern state of Tripura.

It plans to open another deputy high commission in Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu in the south, and an assistant high commissioner`s office in northeastern Assam`s capital and fastest-growing city, Guwahati.

Source: khabarsouthasia.com
BDST: 1808 HRS, OCT 11, 2013
SR/AKA/MZR