'West Bengal wants to import bicycle from Bangladesh'

Chief minister of India's West Bengal Mamata Banerjee at a meeting with prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday showed interest to import bicycles from Bangladesh.

“There’s a huge demand for bicycles in West Bengal. So, Bangladesh can utilise this opportunity by exporting bicycles to West Bengal,” Mamata said.

Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen briefed reporters about the outcome of the meeting.

Placing two proposals in this regard, the West Bengal chief minister said Bangladesh entrepreneurs can set up bicycle industries in joint venture in West Bengal and her government will allocate lands for them.

Secondly, she said, Bangladeshi investors can set up such industries in Bangladesh’s bordering areas. It will reduce transportation cost to a great extent, Mamata said.

Momen said the West Bengal chief minister put emphasis on cooperation between Bangladesh and West Bengal in the fields of education, healthcare and industries.

Mamata apprised the prime minister of their social welfare programmes and mentioned that West Bengal achieved the highest 8 per cent GDP among Indian states.

In this context, Sheikh Hasina also focused on social safety net programmes of Bangladesh as well as various steps of her government for the development of education in the country.

At the outset of the meeting, they exchanged greetings, said the foreign minister.

He said the West Bengal chief minister thanked the prime minister for visiting Kolkata to watch the historic day-night Test match between Bangladesh and India at Eden Gardens.

Sheikh Hasina on Friday morning went to Kolkata on a short visit and jointly rang the bell for the opening of the ever-first day-night Test match for both Bangladesh and India.