Bangladesh upgrades diplomatic mission in Agartala

Agartala: Bangladesh has upgraded its diplomatic mission in Agartala to an assistant high commission and posted Sakhawat Hussain as the first assistant high commissioner to further boost bilateral relations, a Bangladesh official said on Monday.

"The Bangladesh diplomatic mission and visa office in Tripura capital Agartala has been upgraded. Dhaka will soon set up a deputy high commission in Guwahati in Assam," he said.

Both the steps are aimed at boosting bilateral trade and economy and people-to-people contacts, he said.

The formal inauguration of the assistant high commission in Agartala is expected by the month-end.

Sakhawat Hussain was earlier consular head of Bangladesh High Commission in Madrid (Spain). After taking over his current assignment on Monday, he left for Dhaka to meet Bangladesh foreign ministry officials. 

"He will return before December 16 for the celebration of Vijay Diwas (the victory day of Bangladesh liberation war in 1971) in Agartala," the official added.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said at a seminar in Kolkata recently that his country's government was increasing its diplomatic and consular presence in north-east India to promote multi-sectoral engagements with India.

"We are looking at greater economic integration between Bangladesh and India's north-east for mutual benefit. It will particularly facilitate north-east's socio-economic development and better connectivity with the rest of India," Ali added.

Bangladesh has diplomatic missions in New Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. New Delhi has opened assistant high commissions in Khulna and Sylhet in Bangladesh.

India and Bangladesh earlier decided to upgrade the existing 27 custom stations in Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram.

"With the opening of more Bangladesh diplomatic missions in north-east India, trade and business will further improve," Tripura Chambers of Commerce and Industries president M.L. Debnath told IANS.