Going by the argument making the rounds in the North Block, illegal Bangladeshis form the "cheapest labour" available to Indian industries and households -- so why deprive yourselves of the obvious advantage?

This, and several other related issues aimed at greater economic cooperation between the two neighbouring countries, formed the focus of the two-day talks held here late last week between the officials of the Home Ministries of India and Bangladesh.

Allowing free movement of transport, goods and passengers through Bangladesh is also on the cards. The economic benefits to both the countries, once the proposal is okayed would be tremendous, say officials. For instance, the 1600 kilometre road journey from Tripura to Calcutta would be reduced to one third if made throughBangladesh.

"This way, the access to remote north-eastern areas whose residents often lament about being cut-off from the mainstream would be much more easier and faster. The other benefits would follow automatically," said a senior Ministry official.

Sources disclosed that the Bangla team, lead by Joint Secretary (Political) Jamilul Haq appeared happy with the suggestions.

The bent in the Home Ministry's thinking has been caused not by economic considerations alone, though this may act as a strong enough inducement for politicians to tone down their anti-Bangladeshi outbursts.

A second realisation, which has not dawned on many, is that forcibly repatriation of illegal settlers would necessarily include 60 to 70 lakh Hindus that entered India immediately after east Pakistan's transformation into Bangladesh 27 years ago.

At the time of Bangladesh's formation, point out Home Ministry officials, the population of Hindus there stood at 21 per cent but has now gone down to around 10 per cent. The missingHindus are the ones who fled Bangladesh and are now settled mostly in West Bengal and other north-eastern States.

The 4,096-kilometre long border with West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura, casting a giant loop over Bangladesh, is the biggest factor coming in the way of effectively checking out Bangladeshis' infiltration. According to a senior Ministry official, "stopping infiltrations from such a long border line is impossible. Sitting in New Delhi, we often forget that a map is not a territory."

"Take Chittagong Hills, the 2,000 sq kilometre tract in Bangladesh near Tripura that is inaccessible and impenetrable even to Bangla Government. Several Indian militant groups are operating from there. But the heavily forested terrain makes any counter-operation impossible."

Chittagong Port, having immense potential for India once it is allowed access to it, is another another issue being pursued vigorously by the Home Ministry. Tripura, the second largest rubber growing state after Kerala, lost out on thebusiness mainly on account of exorbitant transportation costs to the big cities.

As an official said, "It is also in Tripura that home grown oranges are sold for a paltry Rs 1 a dozen as there is no cost effective way to bring these to the rest of the country. The Chittagong Port, once we are permitted its use, would transform the lives of thousands of farmers and businessmen in the north-east."