Trade pact with India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka likely: Dhaka

A closer economic integration of South Asia may be on the cards. Bangladesh is likely to decide Sunday on signing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Top government officials meeting here would decide on the basis of reports and research work done on relevant data pertaining to the three countries who are keen to ink such a pact in order to expand trade relations in the region, media reports said on Sunday.
The crucial meeting is due at the ministry of commerce. Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam, who performs ministerial functions in the present caretaker government of Chief Advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed, will chair the meeting.
Signing FTAs has been a vexed issue for Bangladesh, as also other South Asian nations that have had prolonged bilateral talks.
The meeting here coincides with the 15th Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) taking place in Colombo.