The High Commissioner of Bangladesh Mr. Tariq Karim called on Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and congratulated him for becoming Chief Minister of Punjab for the record fifth time.
Taking part in the deliberations during a meeting with Mr. Badal at Chief Minister’s residence late last evening, Mr. Karim apprised the Chief Minister of congenial bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh. Mr. Badal informed the High Commissioner that Punjab being an agrarian economy with less than 2% of entire land mass of the country was a major contributor of food grains to the national pool with 42% and 50% of share in rice and wheat respectively. Mr. Badal also mentioned that SAD-BJP government had successfully created investor-friendly atmosphere for the promotion of trade and commerce. Referring to the export of Kinnow, the Chief Minister further asked the High Commissioner to evolve some mechanism from their government side to check the illegal export of Kinnow from Punjab to Bangladesh, which had adversely impacted the economy of both the countries. Mr. Karim assured the Chief Minister that he would certainly take up this matter with his government to workout some permanent solution to mutually benefit both the countries by eradicating the agents' role to ensure smooth and direct export of Kinnow from Punjab to Bangladesh, which would ultimately stop the exploitation of kinnow growers at the hands of these agents. Mr. Badal asked his Principal Secretary Mr. SK Sandhu to keep a close liaison with the office of the high commissioner of Bangladesh for early resolution of this issue.