AL delegation meets Indian commerce minister

The visiting delegation of Awami League yesterday met Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi and flagged the issue of difficulties faced by Bangladesh due to India's ban on export of certain food grains.

Goyal, according to the delegation members, conveyed that India will actively consider the issue so that Bangladesh is not affected by India's ban on export of food grains, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Regarding the huge bilateral trade imbalance in favour of India, Goyal urged the AL delegation members to suggest names of more products which can be imported from Bangladesh to help reduce the gap.

The Bangladesh team also raised the ban on export of perishable items from India and Goyal responded saying that as a close neighbour and friend of Bangladesh, India always considers all issues of the country when those are brought to its attention.

AL presidium member Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, also the agriculture minister, led the AL delegation to the meeting. AL Joint General Secretary Hasan Mahmud, Organising Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Aroma Dutta MP and Marina Jahan MP were also present.

The five-member AL delegation is on a four-day visit to New Delhi at the invitation of Bharatiya Janata Party.

Razzaque said that apart from issues relating to trade, the subject of the political situation in Bangladesh also came up for discussion.

Goyal said India attaches utmost importance to political stability in Bangladesh for the sake of continued peace, progress and prosperity of the country.