India, B'desh sign deals to enhance inland, coastal waterways links
New Delhi: India and Bangladesh on Thursday signed several milestone agreements for enhancing inland and coastal waterways connectivity between the two countries for trade and cruise movements.
After secretary-level talks in New Delhi, Gopal Krishna, Secretary (Shipping) and his Bangladesh counterpart Md Abdus Samad signed the agreement to use Chattogram and Mongla Ports in Bangladesh for movement of goods to and from India. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for passenger and cruise services from Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh to Chennai in India along with Kolkata-Dhaka and Guwahati-Jorhat was also signed.
An addendum to Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) between India and Bangladesh for inclusion of Dhubri (India) and Pangaon (Bangladesh) as new Ports of Call has also been signed. According to Shipping Secretary of Bangladesh Abdus Saamad, decisions taken in the two-day meetings will enhance better connectivity for trade and people to people contact between the two countries. He also said that India has agreed to finance dredging of the river for connecting Dhulian and Rajsahi.
He also hoped that from March next year, crusie ship from Kolkata to Dhaka would sail. Already, a proposal has come. Both the governments are actively considering the proposal.
Discussions were also held to make Nakugaon Land Port in Bangladesh and Dalu ICP (India) operational and to connect Gelephu (Bhutan) as tripartite cross-border route.
Permission for the transportation of third-country cargo on protocol routes and coastal shipping routes were also discussed. Inclusion of Dhamra Port, via Chidambaranar Port (formerly Tuticorin Port) and Kamarajar Port under Coastal Shipping Agreement was also deliberated upon. These will be further discussed in Joint Shipping Committee meeting scheduled in December 2018.
After the meetings, Indian Shipping Sectreatary Gopal Krishna and his counter part of Bangladesh Abdus Samad disclosed all about the agreement in a joint press conference held on Thursday at Le Meridian hotel in New Delhi. They said that both sides agreed to reopen an old route Dhulian–Rajsahi for the benefit of supplying material to Bangladesh in a shorter time span. A technical team would visit Bangladesh to study within a time-bound manner.
Krishnan also said that a decision has been taken to open a new route Gomti-Haroa for easy shipment from landlocked Tripura. Both the countries would undertake a joint study for navigability of the river and possible transhipment very soon. For implementating coastal shipping protocol, Director of Shipping of both countries will meet soon in Dhaka. On 3 December, a meeting of the all stake holders for trade will meet at Kolkata to expedite the agreements.
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 directly to the ports of Kolkata and Haldia in India and Mongla in Bangladesh through waterways which would facilitate movement of cargo and would also reduce the logistic costs. Bangladesh Secretary said that the Bangladesh government has received the proposal very recently. Now, the government would have a discussion with the stake holders. After that, they will the take decision. MPOST
