India and Bangladesh recently held the 7th Commissioner-level Joint Group of Customs meeting in Shillong on June 27-28. This meeting aimed to improve cooperation, boost efficiency, and advance shared goals in customs administration. The goal was to strengthen efforts in customs enforcement, trade facilitation, and border security. The Ministry of Finance released a statement emphasizing these points.
The four-member delegation from Bangladesh was led by Md Kamruzzaman, Commissioner of Customs, Excise & VAT Commissionerate, Jashore. The Indian side was led by the Commissioner of Customs Preventive Commissionerate, NER, Shillong, with a 10-member delegation.
According to the Ministry of Finance, many pending issues at the ground level were resolved during the meeting, and other issues were identified for escalation to higher-level forums. This approach helped in resolving various customs and trade-related issues.
The head of the Bangladesh delegation expressed gratitude to Indian Customs for organizing the meeting and making the discussions result-oriented. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also issued a statement saying that approved minutes were signed after both sides reached a consensus on several key issues related to bilateral trade and customs procedures.
The Ministry of Finance highlighted the significance of the meeting, marking it as an important milestone in the bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh. The meeting emphasized the shared commitment to enhancing trade facilitation and cooperation between the two nations.
The Ministry added that such constructive dialogue and partnership are essential for strengthening the efficiency and effectiveness of cross-border trade, promoting economic growth, and ensuring prosperity.
In another development, on June 22, the Indian Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) in Wellington, Tamil Nadu, and the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in military education. This MoU was signed during the state visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India.
Both colleges provide training to officers of the tri-services, preparing them for higher staff and command responsibilities. They share common values, training curricula, and methodologies, and face similar challenges.
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The MoU aims to enhance professional knowledge, provide insights into strategic affairs, share best practices, and augment the academic capabilities of student officers and faculty members. It also facilitates training programs, joint seminars, faculty exchanges, and reciprocal instructor visits.
The signing of this MoU will further enhance bilateral engagements, fostering a deeper understanding and collaboration between the two nations in military education and strategic studies.
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