There is a huge opportunity to import dates and other fruits from Pakistan for stabilising markets in the holy month of Ramadan, FBCCI Administrator Md Hafizur Rahman said during a meeting with a Pakistani business delegation on Wednesday.

In the meeting held at Gulshan in the capital, businessmen from both sides aired high hopes of boosting bilateral trade, and called on both the governments to reduce taxes and boost trade-related infrastructural capabilities, according to a press release issued by FBCCI.

Apart from Hafizur, present at the meeting were Zain Aziz, trade and investment attaché at the Pakistan High Commission; Md Zafar Iqbal, international affairs chief at FBCCI; leaders from Bangladesh Fresh Fruit Importer Association and other business leaders from both sides.

During the Muslim holy month of fasting, the demand for dates and other fruits surges in Bangladesh, but this year traders have a huge opportunity to maintain enough supplies with Pakistani imports, Hafizur Rahman said in his opening speech.

Throughout the year, Pakistani fruits and agricultural products can be imported at affordable rates, he suggested calling on policymakers to secure trade deals with the Pakistani side.

Both sides sought government support for improving logistics, supply chains, cold storage facilities, packaging facilities and cargo transport sector.