TURA, June 12 � The Haat Management Committees (HMCs) of both India and Bangladesh held a meeting on Thursday to discuss issues pertaining to the opening of a border haat at Kalaichar (West Garo Hills district of India) and Baliamari (Kurigram district of Bangladesh) and it was informed that the expected date of June 23 is likely to be deferred on account of local elections in the neighbouring country.
The meeting was attended by an 11-member delegation led by the Additional Deputy Commissioner i/c Ampati Civil subdivision Abhishek Bhagotia, who is also the chairman of the Haat Committee from India and a six-member team from Bangladesh led by Md. Manzarul Manran, Additional Deputy Magistrate, Kurigram district. Regarding the inauguration of the border haat, the ADM of Kurigram district informed the meeting that inauguration of the haat would not be feasible on June 23 next due to the Union Parishad Elections in Bangladesh. So it was decided that a suitable date would be fixed for the inauguration after consultations with the governments of both the countries.
On the haat timings, the HMCs of both the countries concurred that the border haat would function once a week every Wednesday. The haat timing during summer would be from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm (IST) and in winter the timing would be from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm (IST). An alarm would be sounded one hour before the closing time of the haat to ensure adherence to the prescribed timings. The HMCs of both the countries decided to exchange list of vendors/vendees as well as the list of dignitaries who would attend the inaugural function in their next joint committee meeting. On the day of the inauguration of the border haat, it has been decided by the HMCs that both the countries would present their respective National Anthems and cultural programmes.
Both the HMCs have entrusted their local magistrates, namely, the Extra Assistant Commissioner, Ampati Reuben C. Momin and the Upazila Nirbhai Officer of Kurigram Mohammad Abdul Quader with the responsibilities of joint maintenance of law and order in the haat premises. The HMCs of both the countries would request their respective treasury banks, i.e, the State Bank of India and the Sonali Bank Limited to handle the matters relating to foreign currency exchange in the haat. Regarding maintenance of hygiene and sanitation in the haat, one person each from both the countries would be appointed to clean garbage and toilets and these cleaners would be paid by their respective HMCs by charging Rs 10 / 10 Takas from the vendors. They HMCs would also arrange for dustbins for disposal of garbage.
