Mustafa K. Mujeri, director general of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, said Bangladesh has some sort of connectivity with Nepal and Bhutan, but it is not in operation because of infrastructure constraints and 'non-cooperation of India'.

President of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Abdul Hafiz Chowdhury and former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Mir Nasir Hossain echoed the view.

Last Thursday, Bangladesh and India issued a joint statement after a four-day foreign minister level meeting where India agreed to facilitate Nepal-Bangladesh and Bhutan-Bangladesh connectivity.

Economists and businessmen reacted to this cautiously.

India will get some connectivity with its northeastern states, starting with Tripura. Dhaka has agreed to let India use the Ashuganj river port for goods transport to Tripura in northeastern India.

Dhaka has said this is a one-time exception to help India transport heavy equipment for a power project in Tripura. An agreement would be signed in May next year.

Dhaka is worried about the adverse trade balance that is widening by the year. The blame, again, is on India for imposing non-tariff barriers (NTBs).

Despite it being India's neighbour, only one percent of Indian imports are from Bangladesh whereas nearly 20 percent of Bangladesh's imports come from India.

With this 'one-sided business', Bangladeshi trade experts and businessmen are in doubt whether the Indian offer of connectivity with Nepal and Bhutan would work.