Guwahati, India (BBN)-In order to strengthen the socio-economic relationship between Bangladesh and India, a two-member delegation from the Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam submitted a memorandum to Bangladesh commerce minister requesting measures to boost trade and commerce between both the countries.

Rajesh Das, the vice-president of the Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam (ITFAA), and its secretary Rajeev Das are among the delegation who met Commerce Minister of Bangladesh, Tofail Ahmed, seeking measures to boost trade and commerce ties.

The delegation during the three-day tour of Bangladesh starting from July 2 also called on Maqsoodul Haque, one of the living legends of Bangladesh music who is very proud of his roots in Assam, reports Business Standard.

During the hour-long meeting with the maestro at his music studio in central Dhaka, both the parties decided to join hands and initiate cultural exchange programmes between the two neighbours.

Haque also played one of his yet-to-be released songs based on the tunes of Assamese traditional music.

Interestingly, Assamese, Khasi, Jaintia, Manipuri, Tripuri, Garo and Chakma communities living in Bangladesh have been recognised as ethnic groups in the country.

During the course of the meeting with the Commerce Minister, the delegation urged him to open a Bangladesh Trade Information Centre at Guwahati and expedite the proposed Dhaka-Guwahati air service by Biman Bangladesh so that business and trade received impetus.

In order to promote each other’s culture and create a positive image about both the countries, the delegation also requested the minister to take an initiative to convince film production companies from Bangladesh to join hands with their counterparts from the North-east and co-produce bilingual films showcasing each other’s culture and society.

To strengthen connectivity between the regions, the delegation also met the chairman of NOVOAIR, Arshad Jamal, one of the premier airlines of Bangladesh, to introduce flights between Dhaka and Guwahati. In this regard, he assured to send a team of experts to Guwahati soon.

Md Faruk Khan, Chairman of Parliamentary standing committee on the Ministry of Civil Aviation & Tourism also assured the delegation that extensive preparation was on to connect Dhaka and Guwahati through air and by road.

The delegation also met the Managing Director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, A M Mosaddique Ahmed to chalk out strategies to increase traffic in the proposed flights between Bangladesh and Guwahati.

BBN/ANS-13July14-6:20pm (BST)