A decision to this effect was taken at the second meeting of JWG (joint working group) on trade relations between the two neighbours held yesterday at Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) headquarters.

The JWG comprising four members, two from each side, was formed in May to work out modalities to reduce trade gap between the two countries and also to overcome impediments to trade.

The officials of the commerce ministry of the two countries will meet probably at the level of joint secretary, a meeting source told the news agency.

It was suggested in the meeting that requirement of BIS certification will remain suspended until technical and equipment problems of BSTI (Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution) are identified.

Ashok Das, assistant high commissioner of India to Bangladesh, and SK Singh, first secretary of Indian High Commission, attended the meeting on behalf Indian government while CCCI President Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury and CCCI Vice President Monjurul Amin Chowdhury represented Bangladesh.

The meeting also discussed the recommendations and suggestions made by the six-member joint study committee (JSC) fozmed earlier with equal representation from the CCCI and Tripura Chamber of Commerce and Industry for enhancing trade and investment between Bangladesh and the seven north-eastern states of India.

The two sides agreed that the recommendations of JSC after some modifications would be adopted within a month, the meeting was told. The modified report would then be made public in presence of concerned ministers of the two countries.

The committee (JWG) had agreed to reduce imposition of more 15 percent registration charge imposed by BIS on Bangladeshi cement manufacturers and also para tariff and non-tariff barriers that appear as impediments to enhancing trade and investment between the two countries.

The meeting sorted out several other impediments to trade between the two countries that include poor facilities at land customs stations along the border.

The CCCI chief is reported to have told the JWG meeting that both BSTI and BIS should follow the British standard.

He also informed the meting that he had met SK Chowdhury, deputy director general of BIS, in Delhi on July 13 anl urged him to solve the certification problems.

SK Chowdhury in response to CCCI chief's appeal had accepted the demand to bring down the charges of registration of BIS, but mentioned that a decision will come from Indian ministry after being approached by Bangladesh's ministry concerned.

It is learned that seven cement manufacturers of Bangladesh have already applied to BIS for registration.