Most of the sites are located on the border of India's Meghalaya state abutting Sherpur, Jamalpur, Sylhet and Sunamganj.

The trading centres have been proposed to be set up within five kilometres of the border. Interested traders will be issued identity cards by both the countries to enable them to enter the centres.

No trader will be allowed to exchange commodities worth more than Tk 2,000 (about $29)in a single day, officials said.

A local team comprising officials of the commerce ministry, National Board of Revenue and foreign ministry has visited some of the proposed border towns.

An Indian team also joined the visitors when they went to the proposed sites of Simghat, Kalairchar and Gomaghat in Meghalaya.

Experts pointed out that such border trade would not help Dhaka reduce the ever-widening trade gap with Delhi, the newspaper said.