Deal on use of Ctg, Mongla ports by India

Indian cargoes to get priority

An agreement and standard operation procedure (SoP) are to be signed to allow movement of goods at Chittagong and Mongla sea ports, to and from India, keeping the provision of giving special spaces for Indian cargoes at Bangladesh’s sea ports, sources said.According to Shipping Ministry sources, Bangladesh will sign two memorandums of understanding (MoUs), two standard operation procedures (SOPs), and one agreement with India in the shipping sector during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Delhi visit from April 8–10.
An agreement and an SoP will be signed to allow movement of goods at Chittagong and Mongla sea ports, to and from India, and another SoP on passenger launches and cruise shipping, to promote tourism, the sources said. Two MoUs are to be signed on light houses and light shipment and development of fairway from Sirajganj to Daikhawa and Ashuganj to Zakiganj on the Indo-Bangladesh protocol route, through dredging.
All the SoPs, MoUs and agreement documents were sent to the Law Ministry for vetting, on Tuesday, a source in the Shipping Ministry told The Independent, on condition on anonymity.
“It will create a problem if Indian containers are transported by road. But there won’t be any issue in letting use Chittagong and Mongla ports by giving special spaces,” Abdul Matlub Ahmad, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Commerce and Industries (FBCCI), told The Independent. There will be no problem if Indian cargoes are transported by train, he said in reply to a query.
“It will not be possible to use the Chittagong port until it is upgraded to handle more containers and ships, by increasing its capacity and providing more space,” Siddiqur Rahman, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), told this correspondent. He further said there will be no problem in using the Mongla port.
An MoU was signed between Bangladesh and India on June 6, 2015, during the visit of the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to allow India to use Chittagong and Mongla sea ports.
The Foreign Ministry received documents of SoP and agreement on March 25 this year and the Shipping Ministry finalised it at an inter-ministerial meeting on March 30.
Documents relating to the agreement between Bangladesh and India on use of Chittagong and Mongla sea ports have already been vetted by the Law Ministry, the source said.
Officials of the ministry said no charges or customs duties, except administration fees, will be taken for these facilities.
Moreover, dedicated places will be sanctioned for India at the ports without any additional charge. No other country will be allowed to use these places. Besides, there will be a provision for prioritisation of Indian vessels at the Chittagong port. Currently, 80 per cent of the country’s exports and imports, worth around US$ 55 billion, pass through Chittagong port. However, Bangladesh has already permitted India to carry out shipment of goods to seven sister states of the north-east, through Ashuganj and other river ports, at a transit fee of only Tk. 192 per tonne.

Deal on use of Ctg, Mongla ports by India

Indian cargoes to get priority

An agreement and standard operation procedure (SoP) are to be signed to allow movement of goods at Chittagong and Mongla sea ports, to and from India, keeping the provision of giving special spaces for Indian cargoes at Bangladeshs sea ports, sources said.According to Shipping Ministry sources, Bangladesh will sign two memorandums of understanding (MoUs), two standard operation procedures (SOPs), and one agreement with India in the shipping sector during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas Delhi visit from April 810. An agreement and an SoP will be signed to allow movement of goods at Chittagong and Mongla sea ports, to and from India, and another SoP on passenger launches and cruise shipping, to promote tourism, the sources said. Two MoUs are to be signed on light houses and light shipment and development of fairway from Sirajganj to Daikhawa and Ashuganj to Zakiganj on the Indo-Bangladesh protocol route, through dredging. All the SoPs, MoUs and agreement documents were sent to the Law Ministry for vetting, on Tuesday, a source in the Shipping Ministry told The Independent, on condition on anonymity. It will create a problem if Indian containers are transported by road. But there wont be any issue in letting use Chittagong and Mongla ports by giving special spaces, Abdul Matlub Ahmad, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Commerce and Industries (FBCCI), told The Independent. There will be no problem if Indian cargoes are transported by train, he said in reply to a query. It will not be possible to use the Chittagong port until it is upgraded to handle more containers and ships, by increasing its capacity and providing more space, Siddiqur Rahman, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), told this correspondent. He further said there will be no problem in using the Mongla port. An MoU was signed between Bangladesh and India on June 6, 2015, during the visit of the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to allow India to use Chittagong and Mongla sea ports. The Foreign Ministry received documents of SoP and agreement on March 25 this year and the Shipping Ministry finalised it at an inter-ministerial meeting on March 30. Documents relating to the agreement between Bangladesh and India on use of Chittagong and Mongla sea ports have already been vetted by the Law Ministry, the source said. Officials of the ministry said no charges or customs duties, except administration fees, will be taken for these facilities. Moreover, dedicated places will be sanctioned for India at the ports without any additional charge. No other country will be allowed to use these places. Besides, there will be a provision for prioritisation of Indian vessels at the Chittagong port. Currently, 80 per cent of the countrys exports and imports, worth around US$ 55 billion, pass through Chittagong port. However, Bangladesh has already permitted India to carry out shipment of goods to seven sister states of the north-east, through Ashuganj and other river ports, at a transit fee of only Tk. 192 per tonne.