Likewise, what is the quantum of exports from India to Bangladesh? Similarly, what are the major items of export?
Major export Items from India to Bangladesh are Cotton and Agricultural products which accounts for almost 2 Billion US Dollar each. Other items are vehicles, other than railway or tramway rolling-stock and parts and accessories, machinery and mechanical appliances, iron and steel, plastics, tanning or dyeing extracts, tannins and their derivatives, dyes, salt, sulphur, stone, plastering materials, lime and cement, Electrical machinery and equipment and parts, coffee, tea and spices, rubber products etc. These are mostly primary products. It should be our common endeavour to bring in qualitative and quantities change in our trade exchanges.

On the cultural front we understand that there is a constant exchange of troupes and groups. Please give us an idea about this.
There is no alternative to peoples’ camaraderie in any bilateral relations. The people-to-people contact has increased manifold over the past years because of improved connectivity. We have already upgraded our Mission in Agartala to Assistant High Commission level and opened new Assistant High Commission in Guwahati. Earlier we opened a Deputy High Commission in Mumbai with a view to facilitating the issuance of visa and other consular services. Now we hope to open a new Mission in Chennai soon basically to strengthen our cooperation with the Southern States. To ensure greater mobility of our people visa regime has been substantively relaxed.

Bangladesh and India regularly hold film festivals and book fairs in Dhaka, Kolkata, and Delhi. Recently, Akashbani has started its “Moitree” program. Exchange of Cultural delegations take place between the two countries almost on regular basis. India participates in Asian Art Biennale in Bangladesh. Cultural teams from Bangladesh and India frequently participate in the cultural programmes arranged by each other’s Government and Non-Government organizations. The Maitre Hall of Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi as well as the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka regularly organizes various cultural events.