Saidpur airport to boost regional trade with Bhutan: Munshi

Increased use of Saidpur airport by the neighbouring countries, including Bhutan, will increase Bangladesh's regional trade, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said today.

The government has already announced it as a regional airport and is now developing it to make it available for use by the neighbouring countries, he said.

The road connectivity established between Bangladesh and Bhutan through a third country will increase trade between the two south Asian nations, the minister also said.

The bilateral trade and connectivity with Bhutan will increase to a great extent if the Saidpur regional airport, Banglabandha and Bhurimari land ports are properly used, the minister said.

Munshi made the comments after a meeting with Karma Tshering, economic affairs secretary of Bhutan, held at the commerce ministry in Dhaka.

The Bangladesh Bhutan transit agreement was finalised Wednesday in another secretary level meeting, which was also held in Dhaka.

The agreement enabled Bangladesh and Bhutan to use the Indian land to carry goods between the two countries.

The draft of the agreement will be sent to the law ministries of the respective countries for vetting and the validated copy will also needs to be approved by the cabinet of the two nations.

Earlier, Tshering led a nine-member delegation to finalise the Bangladesh Bhutan transit agreement at a two-day meeting in Dhaka that started on September 13.