Dhaka has requested multiple-entry visa to be used in crossing all borders between Bangladesh and India to make travel by the peoples of two countries much easier and cross-border bus services viable.        
Scope for on-arrival port-entry visa and onboard security checking also came up for discussion at a recent bilateral meeting held mainly for sorting out road-transport hassles, said an official who had attended the talks.
The Bangladeshi side laid importance on these matters in order to encourage trade and business activities between the two countries, they added.
At the meeting, the two countries agreed to sit regularly for clearing roadblocks to running cross-border bus services for making journeys attractive to the two peoples.
Regular consultation meeting of others concerned, including police, revenue officials and operators, also got importance to resolve different kinds of harassment complained by any party in availing the bus services.
Transport officials of Bangladesh and Indian central governments and states of West Bengal and Meghalaya took the decisions after discussion over various problems in running the Bangladesh-India bus services following unsuccessful operations since the launch.
Representatives of ministries concerned, including foreign affairs, commerce, and railway and border security forces of both the countries attended the first-ever coordination meeting on land travels.
At present, three bus services are officially in operation through different borders between Bangladesh and India. But only Dhaka-Kolkata-Dhaka bus service on the western front, launched in July 1999, has been operating regularly, though with problems.
Two of the cross-border bus services have been inoperative even almost a year after their much-orchestrated launch, for hurdles that include visa hassles and alleged inhospitality.
Dhaka-Sylhet-Shillong-Guwahati and Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala buses virtually remained off the road since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee flagged off buses at a landmark ceremony in June last year.
Though Dhaka managed some trips up to Guwahati, there was not any service run from the Indian side. The Dhaka-Agartala bus service, launched in 2004, has been unofficially closed.
The central government of India called the joint secretary-level meeting in Shillong on May 04 after concerns about visa and immigration-related complications, lack of easy customs procedures, infrastructures and 'unnecessary police harassment' were raised by the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges (MoRTB) of Bangladesh.
Official sources said during the meeting, the Indian side had laid importance on opening a visa office in Guwahati to facilitate its nationals in Meghalaya, Assam and Tripura getting Bangladeshi visa easily.
But Dhaka laid importance on getting multiple-entry visa to be used in all borders to encourage trade and business between the two countries.
Regarding the allegations of harassment by police and security forces every now and then by two sides as well as discrepancy in ticket fares and paying tax at borders, the meeting took the decision to hold meetings with police, revenue officials and others to resolve those problems.
Official sources said since the meeting, the Bangladesh side has made a move to open a visa office in Guwahati to facilitate them avoid traveling long way to West Bengal to manage necessary travel documents.  
"The Shillong meeting finally decided to hold operators' meeting every two months, offering the first one to be held in Guwahati. But the official-level review meeting will be held every six months," said one official, preferring not to be named.
The meeting also agreed to work in completing customs formality through special counter, add a new halt in Magura, stopping border-checking harassment, increase luggage limit to 25 kilograms (kgs), and provide snacks and drinks at stoppage.
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Source: The Financial Express