India's free transit offer to ease Bangladesh exports

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina engaged in comprehensive talks with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on the second day of her recent four-day state visit to India, according to a press release by India’s Prime Minister's Office. Free transit is already being provided by India to Bangladesh to send its goods to Nepal and Bhutan. Bangladesh has now asked for rail connectivity with Bhutan through the newly inaugurated Chilahati–Haldibari route.

The Indian government will consider Bangladesh’s request depending upon its practicality and possibility. To ensure the viability of the Chilahati–Haldibari as well as other cross border rail connections, India has asked Bangladesh to eliminate port restrictions, inter alia at the Chilahati – Haldibari crossing

The two sides also consented to speed up efforts to develop bilateral and sub-regional connectivity by implementing the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal Motor Vehicles Aagreement (BBIN MVA) to develop bilateral and sub-regional connectivity. The Indian side requested the Bangladesh side for cooperation for initiating new sub-regional connectivity projects including a highway from Hili in West Bengal to Mahendraganj in Meghalaya through Bangladesh and in this regard, proposed the preparation of a detailed project report. In the same spirit, Bangladesh reiterated its eagerness to partner in the ongoing initiative of the India – Myanmar – Thailand trilateral highway project.

Both India and Bangladesh welcomed the ongoing bilateral initiatives, such as, conversion to dual-gauge of Tongi-Akhaura line, supply of railway rolling stock, capacity building for the personnel of Bangladesh Railway, sharing of IT solutions for improved services of Bangladesh Railway, etc.

Both parties also welcomed new initiatives, namely, the Kaunia-Lalmonirhat-Mogalghat-New Gitaldaha link, establishing a link between Hili and Birampur, upgradation of track and signalling systems and railway stations along the Benapole-Jashore line, link restoration between Burimari and Changrabandha, and construction of a container depot at Sirajganj. They agreed to explore funding of these projects through a range of financial instruments under the bilateral development cooperation.

Bangladesh welcomed India’s gesture of providing 20 broad-gauge diesel locomotives on grant. Leaders of both countries also appreciated the successful completion of trial runs under the agreement on the use of the Chattogram and Mongla Ports (ACMP) and looked forward to its full execution at the earliest.

The Indian side reiterated its request to work towards the expansion of the bilateral Coastal Shipping Agreement of 2015 to include third-country EXIM cargo, added the release.

The two sides agreed to expeditiously explore direct shipping links between the two countries. They also decided to implement the decision to start riverine services under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) routes 5 and 6 (Dhulian to Rajshahi–extension to Aricha) and 9 & 10 (Daudkandi to Sonamura). 

India also requested Bangladesh to complete the remaining infrastructure, immigration, and customs facilities for the operationalisation of the Maitri Bridge over River Feni, connecting Tripura with Bangladesh, at an early date.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)