The first day of the fourth Bangladesh - Myanmar Joint Trade Commission meeting in Dhaka concluded yesterday, with Burmese delegates informing their Bangladesh counterparts that Burma would be unable to lease farmland and set up a power station under a joint investment plan, reports a Bangladesh source.

The delegations from Bangladesh and Burma reviewed the decisions of the third meeting during the first session of the two-day meeting.

Burma and Bangladesh had an agreement, where 50,000 acres of Burmese farmland would be leased to Bangladesh for cultivation by Bangladeshi farmers, as well as a proposal by Bangladesh to set up a joint venture in power development.

The two-day meeting is taking place at the Dhaka Sheraton Hotel. Deputy Minister for Commerce of Burma U Aung Tun is leading a 22-member Burmese delegation while Commerce Secretary Md Ghulam Hossain is leading a large Bangladeshi delegation.

According to sources, various problems related to import and export between the two countries, were also discussed during the first day of the meeting. It was decided that the limit on each letter of credit would be increased from US $20,000 to US $50,000.

The delegations also discussed visa extension for Bangladesh businessmen and allowing businessmen to visit Naypyidaw and other cities in Burma. Currently, businessmen with Bangladesh passports can enter Maungdaw, on the Burmese border opposite Bangladesh's Teknaf, on a seven-day visa.

The second day of fourth Joint Trade Commission meeting will be held in the same hotel today, with the two countries likely to discuss other trade issues such as rice imports to Bangladesh from Burma, border trade, and the banking system.

Bangladesh and Burma have convened the Joint Trade Commission annually since it was formed by the two neighbours in order to promote trade between them.