From correspondents in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 03:32 PM IST

Denied higher access to dal (lentil) supplies from India, which wants to stabilise its domestic markets, Bangladesh has turned to Nepal in the last one year, giving the latter a big boost in bilateral trade.

Lentil has now become the second-biggest commodity of export from Nepal to Bangladesh.

However, for Bangladesh, that imported 4,800 tonnes of lentil valued at $2.5 million during June 2006-July 2007, imports from Nepal have proved costlier due to additional transport costs, New Age newspaper said Sunday.

Since Bangladesh does not have a road transit arrangement with India, its trucks cannot ply to Nepal. Indian trucks load the goods from Nepal and transport it to the India-Bangladesh border.

Such hassles involve extra cost and time as well as cause damage to goods for want of adequate warehouse, traders told the newspaper.

Bangladesh imports lentil from Turkey and Canada as well, but lentil of Indian and Nepali origins is liked most by local consumers for its closeness to local variety in taste and appearance.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)