Several food items from Bangladesh were facing problems of entering into Indian market as they did not conform to the quality norms laid down by the Bureau of Indian Standards and other food standards prevalant in the country.

According to the agreed minutes of the JWG India has also agreed to issue import certificate for six months to importers for importing hilsha fish from Bangladesh instead of issuing import certificates on single consignment basis.

The JWG also decided that henceforth, Bangladesh trucks carrying consignments can offload in warehouses at Petrapole border in India.

The leader of the Bangladesh delegation, Dr Mohammad Ruhul Amin Sarkar, who is a joint secretary of commerce and industry, said 'the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere.' He experessed other outstanding issues would be resolved through further discussions and dialogues. The joint secretary in the Indian ministry for commerce and industry, Rajeev Kher said that the JWG meeting was taking place after a gap of one year. Last meeting was held in 2008 in Dhaka. The JWG meets alternatively in Delhi and Dhaka. He said : 'Bangladesh side was open and candid and we discussed all issues with an open mind.'

According to sources Indian request for setting up of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Bangladesh would be considered in due course and Bangladesh side has requested Indian investors to invest in the existing Export Processing Zones in Bangladesh.#