Bangladesh seeks Meghalaya CM’s intervention to resume import of limestone from India

SHILLONG:

A delegation from Bangladesh led by Assistant High Commissioner to India, Dr Shah Mohammad Tanvir Monsur, has sought the intervention of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to expedite the clearances for exporting limestone to a cement company in Bangladesh.

“Members of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission led by the Assistant High Commissioner Dr Shah Mohammad Tanvir Monsur called on me today. Prospects of border trade with the neighbouring country were discussed today (sic),” Sangma tweeted after meeting the delegation, on November 26.

Speaking to the press, Monsur informed that the Komorrah Limestone Mining Co Ltd (KLMC) had suddenly stopped supplying limestone to Bangladesh since last year.

“After the discussion with the chief minister, we understood that soon we will get the clearances and export of limestone from Meghalaya for our Chhatak Cement Factory Ltd will resume,” Monsur said.

The Assistant High Commissioner further informed that they have to renew the lease agreement with the concerned village authority and for that they have to obtain clearances from the forest and environment department.

“The agreement has to be renewed with the village as they have remapped the land area on which they will be excavating. That is the issue,” he said.

Bangladesh joint secretary Dr Nasim Ahmed informed that since March 2020, the export of limestone to Bangladesh was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have been assured that the process of getting clearances from the different departments for the KLMC will be expedited. (We hope) the cement factory will also start producing cement soon,” he said.

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