DHAKA, July 22: Bangladesh said on Tuesday India must accord it treatment expected for least-developed countries before talks scheduled for October on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA).

“The FTA negotiations have to start first on the basis of already due special and differential treatment to Bangladesh as per the World Trade Organization (WTO) charter,” Commerce Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury told Dhaka-based foreign correspondents.

He said India had to consider the comparative stages in development of the two countries and ensure an equitable share of commerce by reducing the trade gap of $1 billion a year in India’s favour.

“If these bases are not accepted, what we are going to negotiate?” Chowdhury asked.

“This has to be the starting point of negotiation. Otherwise negotiation will be of no use,” he said.

Bangladesh and India this month agreed to open talks on a free-trade agreement in October in New Delhi.

The decision was taken at a Dhaka meeting of the Joint Economic Commission. It was the sixth meeting of the commission and came after a break of six years.

Chowdhury said he would like to see India allow Bangladesh duty-free access for 118 items and remove non-tariff restrictions that have virtually blocked Bangladesh’s exports such as cement, iron sheets and lead-acid batteries to Indian markets.—AFP