Bangladesh and India have signedan agreement to use Chattogram and Mongla Ports in Bangladesh for movement of goods to and from India. The two countries signed several “milestone agreements” for enhancing inland and coastal waterways connectivity between the two countries for trade and cruise movements, reports UNB.
Briefing media persons in New Delhi on Thursday evening, Indian Shipping Secretary Gopal Krishna, and his Bangladesh counterpart Md. Abdus Samad informed the details of the deals. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has also been signed for movement of passenger and cruise services, according to Press Information Bureau of India.
In addition to this, an addendum to ‘Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade’ (PIWTT) between India and Bangladesh has been signed for inclusion of Dhubriin India and Pangaonin Bangladesh as new Ports of Call.
These agreements will facilitate easier movement of goods and passengers between the two countries, giving an impetus to trade and tourism, said the PIB.
The two sides agreed to consider inclusion of Rupnarayan river (National Waterway-86) from Geonkhali to Kolaghat in the protocol route and to declare Kolaghatin West Bengal as new Port of Call. Chilmari was agreed to as a port of call in Bangladesh.
The new arrangement will facilitate movement of flyash, cement, construction materials etc from India to Bangladesh through IWT on Rupnarayanriver.
Further, both sides agreed to declare Badarpur on river Barak (NW 16) as an Extended Port of Call of Karimganj in Assam and Ghorasal of Ashuganj in Bangladesh on reciprocal basis.
The Indian side proposed for extension of the protocol routes from Kolkata upto Silchar in Assam.
Currently 3.5 MMT cargo is transported on protocol routes through inland waterways which is expected to increase substantially after the declaration of additional Ports of Call and extension of protocol routes.
The North Eastern states would get connected to directly to the ports of Kolkata and Haldia in India and Mongla in Bangladesh through waterways which would facilitate movement EXIM cargo and would also reduce the logistic costs.
In another important understanding reached between the two countries, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for movement of passengers and cruise vessels on Inland Protocol route and coastal shipping routes has been finalised. These river cruise services are likely to commence between Kolkata - Dhaka - Guwahati - Jorhat and back.
It was also agreed that a Joint Technical Committee will explore the technical feasibility of operationalisation of Dhulian-Rajshahi protocol route upto Aricha and the reconstruction and opening up of Jangipur navigational lock on river Bhagirathi subject to the provisions of the Treaty between India and Bangladesh on Sharing of Ganga Waters at Farakka,1996.
This move has the potential to reduce the distance to Assam from India’s main part by more than 450 kms on the protocol routes.
It was also decided that a Project Management Consultant for supervision and monitoring of dredging of Ashuganj-Zakiganj and Sirajganj-Daikhowa stretches of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route in Bangladesh will be engaged with 80 % financial contribution from India and rest by Bangladesh.
A Joint Monitoring Committee has also been constituted for overall monitoring of the dredging works. To bring about significant reduction in logistics cost and faster delivery of Bangladesh export cargo, Indian side raised the point regarding permitting ‘Third country’ EXIM Trade under Coastal Shipping Agreementand PIWTT by allowing transhipment through ports on the East Cost of India.
Bangladesh agreed to hold stakeholder consultations and revert on the matter.
Both sides have also agreed for development of Jogighopa as a hub/trans-shipment terminal for movement of cargo to Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Bhutan and notifying Munsiganj River terminal by Bangladesh Customs for routing third party Exim cargo through Kolkata Port.