The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Bangladesh and India will be a gamechanger for bilateral trade partnership, says Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami. CEPA is under active discussion of both the governments, he said while addressing a virtual event on Wednesday. High Commissioner Doraiswami highlighted Duty-Free Quota-Free market access available to Bangladesh products under SAFTA since 2011. He said India’s vast consumer market offers enormous opportunities for the quality food products from Bangladesh and underscored the importance of linkages among trade bodies.  The High Commissioner also emphasized the importance of finalizing reciprocal arrangements with regard to food safety standards and rapid upgradation of logistics to enhance such trade. Also read: Greater trade, connectivity hold brighter future for Dhaka-Delhi ties: Doraiswami Focusing on Bangladesh-India trade agricultural and processed food products, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in association with Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association and India Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised the virtual conference and India-Bangladesh Trade Fair on Agri Products. 

India is boosting its production of Covid-19 vaccine, but there is no word yet when it can resume its export of the jabs to Bangladesh, the country’s high commissioner in Dhaka said on Sunday. “We hope the problem will be resolved soon,” High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami told reporters after a meeting with Awami Jubo League Chairman Fazle Shams Parash at the central office of Awami League. The Indian envoy said: "We are increasing corona vaccine production. The corona situation in India is still at a dangerous stage. So we are not yet able to say the exact time of giving corona vaccine to Bangladesh," Also read: Bangladesh to start administering Pfizer vaccine doses Monday Parash recalled India’s crucial help during the 1971 Liberation War and said India has always been by Bangladesh side in everything. “India is our friend of bad days and partner in good days as well,” he said. Parash said that he discussed with the Indian envoy the corona and the current situation in India. Also read: Bangladesh rolls out Sinopharm vaccine Doraiswami watched two documentaries on the humanitarian activities of the Juba League during the corona crisis.  Juba League general secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil and other leaders and workers of the central committee were present during the envoy’s visit.

Anzar Mustaeen Ali, a six-year-old from Bangladesh, has won a special prize of $1,000 for his beautiful artwork.