Bhutan wants reduction in seaport charges

The Bhutanese authorities want a reduction in charges for the use of Bangladeshi seaports for cargo transportation between the two countries. Bhutan has already placed its proposal to the foreign ministry, which has forwarded the matter to the shipping ministry, according to multiple sources.

The Bhutanese prime minister, Lotay Tshering, is scheduled to visit Bangladesh on April 12. The Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) on the use of inland waterways for bilateral trade and transportation of transit cargo between Bangladesh and Bhutan is likely to be signed on April 12 in the presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Bhutanese counterpart, sources said. A Bhutanese technical team has already selected the protocol routes and Bangladeshi seaports to transport their goods and cargo to their country.

A joint technical committee (JTC) meeting of the two countries was held at the city’s Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) building on March 31 to finalise the draft to sign the SoP during the visit of the Bhutanese prime minister to Bangladesh, BIWTA sources said.

Shipping ministry joint secretary Mohidul Islam and Sonam Gyaltshen of the ministry of economic affairs of Bhutan led their teams on behalf of their respective countries at the meeting.

“We have already finalised the draft of the SoP and minutes. It is expected that the deal will be signed on April 12 during the visit of the Bhutanese prime Mmnister to Bangladesh,” BIWTA deputy director Sharmila Khanam told The Independent yesterday.

In the SoP, the authorities have selected the entry and exit points of the two countries, she said. According to Sharmila Khanam, Bhutan will use Bangladesh’s Chalna, Mongla and Chattogram seaports and its cargo will go to India’s Dhubri port via Bangladesh’s Daikhawa. “Bhutan will transport its goods from the Dhubri port to their country by road,”

she said. The Bhutanese authorities and traders would load their mother vessel with the help of inland coastal vessels using Bangladesh’s waterways, she noted. Besides, Samdrup Jongkhar, Gelegphug,

Sarpang, Phuentsholing and Samtse of Bhutan and Monghalhat, Noonkhawa, Daikhawa, Nakugaon, Haluaghat, Banglabandha, Burimari, Tarnabil, Narayanganj, Gobrakurakoraitoli, Mongla seaport and Chattogram seaport of Bangladesh are the exit and entry points, respectively, selected in the draft SoP, sources said.

However, the government is positive about providing transit and transhipment facilities to Bhutan like India, they added.

The sources said the charges of Bangladesh’s seaports are very low compared to other seaports around the world as the Bangladesh seaport authorities  fixed their charges as per a gazette published in 1986.

The Chattogram seaport authorities are still realising charges as per the 33-year-old gazette even now, the sources said, adding that the Mongla port authorities are, however, levy charges as per a gazette published in 2013.

Normally, seaport charges across the world are reviewed and fixed every four to five years. The seaports authorities have also given waiver charges 70-80 per cent to traders considering the necessity after fixing the charges, the source said.

Shipping secretary Abdus Samad has confirmed the Bhutanese authority’s request for the reduction of charges. “The matter will be resolved through discussion,” he said in reply to a query.

Bhutan wants reduction in seaport charges

The Bhutanese authorities want a reduction in charges for the use of Bangladeshi seaports for cargo transportation between the two countries. Bhutan has already placed its proposal to the foreign ministry, which has forwarded the matter to the shipping ministry, according to multiple sources. The Bhutanese prime minister, Lotay Tshering, is scheduled to visit Bangladesh on April 12. The Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) on the use of inland waterways for bilateral trade and transportation of transit cargo between Bangladesh and Bhutan is likely to be signed on April 12 in the presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Bhutanese counterpart, sources said. A Bhutanese technical team has already selected the protocol routes and Bangladeshi seaports to transport their goods and cargo to their country. A joint technical committee (JTC) meeting of the two countries was held at the citys Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) building on March 31 to finalise the draft to sign the SoP during the visit of the Bhutanese prime minister to Bangladesh, BIWTA sources said. Shipping ministry joint secretary Mohidul Islam and Sonam Gyaltshen of the ministry of economic affairs of Bhutan led their teams on behalf of their respective countries at the meeting. We have already finalised the draft of the SoP and minutes. It is expected that the deal will be signed on April 12 during the visit of the Bhutanese prime Mmnister to Bangladesh, BIWTA deputy director Sharmila Khanam told The Independent yesterday. In the SoP, the authorities have selected the entry and exit points of the two countries, she said. According to Sharmila Khanam, Bhutan will use Bangladeshs Chalna, Mongla and Chattogram seaports and its cargo will go to Indias Dhubri port via Bangladeshs Daikhawa. Bhutan will transport its goods from the Dhubri port to their country by road, she said. The Bhutanese authorities and traders would load their mother vessel with the help of inland coastal vessels using Bangladeshs waterways, she noted. Besides, Samdrup Jongkhar, Gelegphug, Sarpang, Phuentsholing and Samtse of Bhutan and Monghalhat, Noonkhawa, Daikhawa, Nakugaon, Haluaghat, Banglabandha, Burimari, Tarnabil, Narayanganj, Gobrakurakoraitoli, Mongla seaport and Chattogram seaport of Bangladesh are the exit and entry points, respectively, selected in the draft SoP, sources said. However, the government is positive about providing transit and transhipment facilities to Bhutan like India, they added. The sources said the charges of Bangladeshs seaports are very low compared to other seaports around the world as the Bangladesh seaport authorities fixed their charges as per a gazette published in 1986. The Chattogram seaport authorities are still realising charges as per the 33-year-old gazette even now, the sources said, adding that the Mongla port authorities are, however, levy charges as per a gazette published in 2013. Normally, seaport charges across the world are reviewed and fixed every four to five years. The seaports authorities have also given waiver charges 70-80 per cent to traders considering the necessity after fixing the charges, the source said. Shipping secretary Abdus Samad has confirmed the Bhutanese authoritys request for the reduction of charges. The matter will be resolved through discussion, he said in reply to a query.