Indian cos to help manufacture agro machinery in Bangladesh

Indian High Commissioner Pranay Kumar Verma has said steps will be taken so that Indian companies can produce agricultural machinery in Bangladesh by setting up their factories in this country.

"Initiatives will be taken to encourage India's Mahindra and other agriculture machinery manufacturers to set up their factories in Bangladesh and invest in manufacturing and assembling agricultural machinery locally here," he said. 

The Indian envoy gave the assurance at a meeting with Agricultural Minister Dr Mohammad Abdur Razzaque at his office in the Secretariat Thursday, said a press release.

Verma expressed interest in signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for increasing cooperation between agricultural research institutes of the two countries.

During the meeting, Dr Razzaque sought India's cooperation for providing onion and jute seeds for the upcoming summer season since the country witnessed a good yield of onion in summer this year with the seeds imported from Maharashtra.

Besides, the agriculture minister also sought India's cooperation in different areas, including imparting training to scientists, developing seed technology, supplying high-yielding varieties and seedlings of cashew and coffee as well as for agro processing and nanotechnology and biotechnology.

He also sought cooperation in combating terrorism, communalism, drug and human trafficking.

Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akter and Additional Secretary Md Ruhul Amin Talukder were present at the meeting.

After the meeting with the Indian high commissioner, Dr Razzaque talked to the journalists and said that BNP could not topple the government through fire terrorism, movements, hartals, blockades and mass rallies.

"Not only by 11 January, BNP would not be able to topple the government even by 11 December next," he said.