Bangladesh has been benefiting by importing from India, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed has said while trying to assuage the critics of the bilateral trade gap, which is heavily in favour of New Delhi.“India has given duty-free quota-free access to all out items except two — alcohol and tobacco. The trade (bilateral) is now close to $6 billion. It is in favour of India, but we are benefitting from this,” he said on Wednesday.“If prices of any commodities become high, we import from India,” he said to drive home his point.Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran was also present. The minister was speaking at the celebration of the India’s scholarship programmes, the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) Day, in Dhaka. Apart from those who studied in India under scholarship schemes, 400 youths who visited India in the last four years as part of 100-member youth delegation’s annual tour also attended the celebration.
