SHILLONG, May 10 � With trade figures showing a bullish trend, Indo-Bangladesh Customs officials during a two-day coordination meeting beginning here Wednesday would formulate a �standard vehicle pass� for import-export transporters of the two countries.
The bi-annual coordination meeting between the two countries is being held for the third time here after the two meetings at Agartala and Sylhet in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
Northeast Customs Commissioner, SR Baruah said, the vehicles carrying trade items across the international borders would be issued the standard vehicle pass by concerned authorities of the two countries in which detail of the driver, attendant and the vehicle would be provided.
Baruah said, the driver and his attendant (if any) would have an identity card with photograph and the vehicle�s make, complete with engine numbers and other details would be provided in the pass. �We and our counterpart from Bangladesh would be fine-tuning the details of the standard pass during the meeting,� Baruah added.
There are 25 Land Custom Stations (LCS) in the North East, of which 20 are functional. Through these 20 LCSs items ranging from minerals, food items, textiles and other goods move across the Indo-Bangla border everyday.
India is the second largest exporter of goods to Bangladesh after China. India exported goods worth about $ 3.215 billion during 2009-10.
Meanwhile, the meeting would also discuss ways to stop smuggling of contrabands, border haats (markets), development of infrastructure along the international border of the two countries.
The eight-member Bangladesh delegation would be headed by Commissioner Customs, Dhaka North, Enayet Hossain and the Indian delegation by Baruah.
