Bangladesh asks India to rush foodgrains
From Our Dacca Office, DACCA, JAN. 7- The Bangladesh Government is reported to have requested India to have emergency basis some one million tonnes of foodgrains.
The request was made informally by the Bangladesh Food and Agriculture Minister Mr. Phani Majumdar to Mr. A. K. Roy, Joint Secretary, to the Indian External Affairs Ministry. It is estimated by the Bangladesh Government that the food requested from India will cover Bangladesh’s requirements during the next six months. Mr. Roy is reported to have assured the Bangladesh Minister that the request will be forwarded to the Government of India.
Mr. Mazumdar hoped that the supply would come as soon as possible. He told newsmen that it would be alright if the bulk of the supply was wheat.
Simultaneously the Bangladesh Government is making efforts to formalize the India-Bangladesh trade channels. Already the total disruption of normal trade channels had started to be felt upon the local market. The government is anxious to open the said channels in the quickest possible time.
Accordingly a notification reviving the orders of the erstwhile Pakistani Government to control the export-import trade have been issued. Under these orders the private trade channels will be operating under the same terms and conditions as applicable to export-import trade. The only modification made is that these orders will not be applicable in the case of Government-to-Government basis trade. In other words, the Bangladesh Government will be more interested in Government-toGovernment basis trade.
At the same time, the Government will be willing to allow trade to private basis essentially on some sort of a barter system. This will eliminate currency difficulties for purposes of payments between India and Bangladesh. Some of these difficulties might disappear with the introduction of the country’s new currency and standardization of exchange ratios. Till then most of the trade exchanges would take place on barter basis.
The Government has also virtually made up its mind to nationalize foreign trade, including the export trade in jute.
An indication of the broad decisions taken by the Government on economic issues was given by the acting president Syed Nazrul Islam, at a meeting of Awami League workers here today. He gave enough hints of the Government enforcing austerity programmes with immediate effect.
It would not only take over export trade in jute and other types of foreign trade, but also nationalize big industries along with the big banks. This was urgently necessary the acting President explained to redeem the pledge given to the people.
The Bangladesh Government has lifted with immediate effect restrictions on the export of ten mostly perishable commodities to India, ad agencies.
Simultaneously, the Government has also permitted the import of a list of ten essential commodities from India.
List of imports from India includes coconut oil, milk food for infants, soda, ash, edible oil (mustard oil), oil seeds, spices, fresh and dry fruit, bamboo, sungrass (for roofing) and cane.
Export from Bangladesh will cover fresh iced, salted and dried fish. eggs. poultry (live) fresh vegetables except potatoes, fresh fruits including green cocoanuts, ginger, garlic, coriander seeds, green chillies and turmeric betel leaves tortoise and turtles tamarind and hides.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 08.01.1972