[🇧🇩] Is it a Transit or Corridor? Will it be used for economic or Military purpose?

[Saif]

Source : https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/india-bangladesh-trasit-route-challenge-reap-benefit-1833220

India's Transit Thru' Bangladesh : Reaping benefit is a challenge
Routes finalised; meeting next month to fix charges for goods transportation

India has been working strategically to connect its north-eastern region with the rest of the country through Bangladesh since Dhaka agreed to give New Delhi the privilege nine years back.

Experts say that Bangladesh should try to reap as much benefit of the new regional connectivity as possible.

India is developing the infrastructure needed to carry freight through Bangladesh, avoid lengthy detours and save time and money. Officials of the two countries will meet next month to decide which routes will be used at the beginning and how much India should pay Bangladesh in transit fees.

During a recent visit to India, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina agreed to let New Delhi use Chattogram and Mongla ports. This enables India to carry freight using Bangladesh's river, rail lines and roads.

Economists say the improved connectivity can also help Bangladesh, which is located between South and Southeast Asia, to become a regional hub and growth centre.

RIVER PROTOCOL

In November 2010, India and Bangladesh for the first time signed a transit agreement.

The two governments in 2015 inked a protocol allowing India to use four riverways through Bangladesh, which would link Kolkata and Murshidabad to Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya.

Since Kolkata-Ashuganj-Akhaura river route became operational in June 2016, only 13 cargo vessels used it, paying Bangladesh Tk 28 lakh in transit fees.

Shipping ministry officials said Indian businesses were not using the route regularly as the roads and ports needed to use the waterway were not ready yet.

During Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to Delhi from October 3-6, the two countries decided to utilise a river route from Murshidabad's Dhulian to Tripura's Sonamura via Rajshahi.

Officials hope this and other river routes would be operational soon.

PORT USE

The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding the use of Chattogram and Mongla ports in 2015, after years of demand from India. Subsequently, the countries signed an agreement last year and a standard operating procedure (SoP) during Hasina's visit in October.

According to the SoP, goods that reach Chattogram and Mongla sea ports, will be carried by road, rail, and water ways to Agartala (Tripura) via Akhaura; Dawki (Meghalaya) via Tamabil; Sutarkandi (Assam) via Sheola, and Srimantpur (Tripura) via Bibirbazar.

The SoP covers waterways, roads and railways. It will allow the landlocked Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura states to access open sea trade routes through Chattogram and Mongla ports.

Under the 2015 river protocol, vessels were allowed to carry a maximum of 2,000 tonnes of cargo. But now larger ships would ply the waterways, increasing the trade volume and reducing logistic costs.

Tripura will be connected to Chattogram Port through the Feni Bridge over the Feni river in Sabroom town of South Tripura and Ramgarh in Khagrachhari. India is constructing the roads and railways to Sabroom as part of its massive development works in the northeast, according to Indian media.

Shipping ministry officials said a secretary-level meeting between the two countries next month will decide when to begin using the routes and what would be the fee for using the port.

INFRASTRUCTURE UNDER INDIAN LINE OF CREDIT

India has so far provided three lines of credit (LoCs) worth $7.5 billion, and majority of the money is meant to develop infrastructure needed for the connectivity through Bangladesh.

For example, Bangladesh is in the process of constructing a bay container terminal in Chittagong Port, further developing Mongla Port, and building four-lane highways for Ramgarh-Baruerhat, Cumilla-Brahmanbaria-Sarail, and Ashuganj river port-Sarail-Dharkhar-Akhaura land port routes.

Under the Indian LoCs, Bangladesh is also establishing an inland container river port in Ashuganj, doubling the rail lines from Khulna-Darshana Junction and upgrading the metre gauge lines to dual gauge lines from Parbatipur to Kaunia.

The government is also establishing Indian economic zones in Mongla, Bheramara and Mirsarai and an IT Special Economic Zone in Keraniganj.

Implementation of a motor vehicle agreement among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal will further enhance trade and connectivity, with Bangladesh at its helm.

CAN DHAKA REAP THE BENEFIT?

Dhaka may charge fees for the Indian goods shipped through Bangladesh and can increase its export volumes too, experts said.

Under the SoP, in Chattogram and Mongla ports, "Movement of cargo will be exempted from customs duties or any other taxes other than administrative operational fees and other charges prescribed by the inter-governmental committee for transit of goods."

Such fees and other charges shall be admissible as per the provision of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade unless parties agree to more favourable terms as part of a special trade agreement, reads the SoP.

Shipping ministry officials said a secretary-level meeting scheduled for next month will decide what charges will be set for using the ports and the routes. The meeting will decide whether the charges will be similar to the fees applicable for the Kolkata-Ashuganj-Akhaura route or higher.

The officials said they are deciding how much Bangladesh may charge before the meeting next month. For port use, they are considering whether to impose ten types of charges.

Under the river protocol, Bangladesh charges Tk 277 for each tonne of freight. Of this, Tk 50 and Tk 34 are charged for security and anchoring at the jetty.

The commerce ministry had formed a core committee on fixing charges of transit and transshipment. Its proposal to charge at least Tk 1,058 for each tonne was not accepted by Bangladesh government.

Therefore, officials of both the countries later fixed the charges at Tk 277.

Mohammad Yunus, research director at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, who was a member of the committee, said,"If the recommendation is implemented, Bangladesh will benefit."

"We need to see what we are gaining because the infrastructure is being built with our money," he told The Daily Star.

Prime Minister's Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman, however, pointed out that the recommendations were not based on empirical studies.

Shipping ministry officials said local transport companies would benefit when the goods are transported through the country.

Economics Professor Selim Raihan of Dhaka University said the country's low ranking in ease of doing business should be improved drastically to attract foreign investment.

"If we cannot draw investments to the economic zones, other countries will use our roads, ports and other infrastructure to boost their exports while we will lose," he added.

The economic zones should be connected to the roads, rail and waterways that are being developed with the Indian credit, he observed.​

 

[Saif]

India is benefitting from the transit/corridor but Bangladesh is not getting any benefit to transport its goods to Nepal and Bhutan.

 

[Saif]

A deep-sea port, an Indian transit, or a US military base?

DURING the Cold War, America strongly opposed the division of Pakistan because the Muslim-majority country was a valuable ally against the Soviet Union. After East...

www.newagebd.net

A deep-sea port, an Indian transit, or a US military base?
by Taj Hashmi 14 May, 2023, 00:00

DURING the Cold War, America strongly opposed the division of Pakistan because the Muslim-majority country was a valuable ally against the Soviet Union. After East Pakistan became Bangladesh with the help of India and the Soviet Union, the Nixon administration did not show support for the new country. They believed that Bangladesh was closely aligned with Indira Gandhi, who was pro-Soviet and disliked by secretary Henry Kissinger. In fact, Kissinger referred to Bangladesh as a 'basket case'.

Following the violent removal of Mujib and his pro-Soviet regime in August 1975, the relationship between Dhaka and Washington shifted. The US became an active development partner of Bangladesh, while the World Bank, IMF, and various development agencies in the West had already implemented development projects in response to the devastating Famine of 1974. Throughout Bangladesh's various elected and unelected regimes, Dhaka and Washington had a functional relationship until the Hasina regime, known for its corruption and autocratic practices, had faced disapproval from the World Bank and Washington for attempting to solicit kickbacks during the Padma bridge construction project in 2012. The situation caused Washington to experience cold shoulder syndrome.

For a period of time, until China emerged as a development and security partner of Bangladesh following the controversial parliamentary elections in 2018, Washington and Dhaka had a positive understanding. It's widely believed these elections were rigged and sponsored by Beijing to keep Hasina in power. After the rigged polls of 2018, China became the primary overseer of Bangladesh's infrastructure development projects, obviously to the discomfiture of America and its allies in the West and East, including Japan. For several years, China has been the primary source of military equipment for the country, which is worth mentioning.

Meanwhile, the growing tension between China and Taiwan, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and last but not least, China's friendship with Russia and other adversaries of America have caused concern in Washington. It's now important for the US to make a decisive decision about how to handle China, Russia, and their allies, such as Bangladesh. India's relationship with Russia and its tense ties with China have mixed reactions in Washington. The US can't openly support India's relationship with Russia, but it also cannot afford to disengage from India, particularly in the event of a conflict with China.

Given the context, it appears that America is interested in establishing a military base in the Bay of Bengal, which is in close proximity to the strategically important Strait of Malacca, likely as a response to China's actions. The unanswered question is whether Matarbari will serve as a transit for India and a military base for America! The agreement between Japan and Bangladesh to build a deep-sea port at Matarbari using Japanese funds and expertise was preceded by Sheikh Hasina's recent statement in parliament on April 10. In her speech, she criticised the US for engaging in 'regime change' operations in Muslim-majority countries and accused them of being a nasty hegemonic power. Sheikh Hasina also mentioned that the Biden administration was annoyed by her refusal to grant the US a military base in the Bay of Bengal.

However, seemingly, Japan is acting as a 'distant NATO member' in the best interests of America, which consequently benefits India. However, Bangladesh may not benefit much from this arrangement and could potentially still be targeted by China if tensions escalate between China and America. The proposed deep-sea port in Bangladesh will not bring significant profits to the country either. Despite using Bangladeshi roads, railways, and rivers for transportation between Kolkata and Agartala, India's transit fees are much lower than what experts predicted in 2010. Therefore, building another transit at Matarbari will not benefit Bangladesh financially. The country will also have to bear the expenses of maintaining the port and repaying the loan to Japan for its construction. This situation puts Bangladesh in a difficult and risky position.

To achieve success in Bangladesh, the US needs to negotiate with India. Recently, Derek Chollet, counsellor of the state department, travelled from Dhaka to Delhi to facilitate these negotiations. Japanese prime minister Kishida did the same thing. Recently, he went to Delhi to meet prime minister Modi days before Hasina's state visit to Japan. The US is also allowing Japan to construct a deep-sea port in the Bay of Bengal that won't be operational for several years. However, these facilities could potentially serve as a naval base for the United States. The construction of the port is believed to be a tactic for the United States to exert pressure on China. Additionally, it appears that Japan's prime minister Kishida's recent meeting with Modi in Delhi suggests that the port will also serve India as a transit point to connect its landlocked northeast with the Indian Ocean.

The Matarbari project is expected to positively impact India's economy, potentially transforming its northeast region into a thriving industrial hub. This could lead to better political integration of the 'Seven Sisters' in the northeast with India. Additionally, a more integrated India would be less vulnerable to Chinese invasion and could stabilise the region. However, unless America, Japan, and their allies invest significantly in industrialisation in and around Matarbari, there may be little benefit for Bangladesh. The country would only have a deep-sea port and a large debt burden for decades, similar to Sri Lanka's situation. Bangladesh's decision to permit India to use alternative transit routes through Bangladesh and Matarbari to the Siliguri Corridor, also known as the 'Chicken Neck,' may result in Chinese military retaliation against the country. The Hasina administration has been criticised by the Chinese ambassador for getting too close to some 'third countries' (US and Japan) that are hostile towards China. Such criticism suggests that retaliation is a probable outcome.

Some analysts and experts might believe that America may be considering the establishment of a military base in the Bay of Bengal with Japan's help. However, we should ask ourselves if this is the best course of action for Bangladesh. Additionally, we should consider if a deep-sea port is necessary and if Matarbari can replicate Singapore's success. The answer to both of these questions is 'no'. Bangladesh already has two seaports, Chattogram and Mongla, which are more than enough. This is clear from the fact that Bangladesh has proposed to India to use their existing seaports.

It's time to contain China which has no qualms with promoting brutal autocratic regimes across the world. Tibet and Xinjiang are glaring examples of gross violations of all principles of democracy, freedom, and human rights within its annexed territories. China's public support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine is another example in this regard. We know rogue and pariah regimes in North Korea, Myanmar, Cambodia, and among others, Bangladesh, wouldn't have survived without China's support. Having no respect for people's right to self-determination, China wants to annex Taiwan. Last but not least, China's not-so-subtle threats to India to grab chunks of its territory in the name of 'undoing the past mistakes' aren't congenial to global peace and order. As 'regime change' by any superpower is obnoxious, so is any threat to alter the political geography of sovereign nations in the post-World War II era deplorable.

In the past, military pacts and bases strategically located have been used to contain rogue powers. However, it is important to respect the sovereignty of each country and consult with them before establishing a military base. In a democratic society, the majority should have the final decision. No country should be forced to sign an agreement allowing a foreign military base. Unfortunately, the unelected Hasina administration failed to publicly discuss the deep-sea port project with Japanese assistance, leading to speculation about the potential for a US military base in the Bay of Bengal. Transparency builds trust and lack of trust can lead to conflicts and wars. In summary, Hasina's unpopularity in Bangladesh and diplomatic failures have caused an imbalance.

In summary, Hasina's lack of popularity in Bangladesh and her failure to maintain a balance between the US and China have weakened her leadership. By favouring America and Japan, Hasina has alienated China, as evidenced by the Chinese ambassador's warning to her regime. The Matarbari project could be detrimental to Hasina's authoritarian leadership, while benefiting Delhi, Washington, and Tokyo. There is a possibility that a pro-Chinese military coup may remove her from power.

Taj Hashmi, PhD, FRAS is historian-cum-cultural anthropologist and a retired professor of security studies at the APCSS, US. His latest book, 'Fifty Years of Bangladesh, 1971-2021: Crises of Culture, Development, Governance, and Identity', was published by Palgrave-Macmillan in May 2022.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh allows India to access its major ports to transport goods to its own territory

Revenue office in Bangladesh issues permanent standing order to allow transshipment - Anadolu Ajansı

www.aa.com.tr

Bangladesh allows India to access its major ports to transport goods to its own territory
Revenue office in Bangladesh issues permanent standing order to allow transshipment
SM Najmus Sakib |
26.04.2023 - Update : 26.04.2023
DHAKA, Bangladesh

Bangladesh has given India permission to transport goods from one Indian state to another using major Bangladeshi ports in line with an agreement signed in 2018 between the neighboring countries.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) in Bangladesh issued a permanent standing order in this regard on Tuesday.

The permanent transit order was issued by the NBR following the completion of trial runs for the operationalization and regular movement of goods, the order said.

Bangladeshi ports, the NBR, customs and other taxation parties involved will draw certain charges in line with the country's tax and VAT laws. This will include fees for documentation, transshipment, security, scanning, administrative charges, an electric lock and seal fee and toll fees for using Bangladeshi roads, the order said.

As a result, India will be able to use Chattogram and Mongla seaports for transit and transshipment to carry goods to and from India using Bangladeshi territory.

Chattogram Port, Bangladesh's main seaport, is located on the banks of the Karnaphuli River in the country's southeast and handles over 90% of the country's export-import trade.

Mongla Port, the country's second largest seaport, lies close to the shore of the Bay of Bengal.

India will get the facility under an agreement for the use of Chattogram and Mongla ports signed in 2018. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for passenger and cruise services was also signed in 2019.

India used to take a lot of time to transport goods to its northeastern states. The new order will reduce both time and costs for India, both countries' officials recently told reporters following bilateral meetings.

The northeastern Indian states include Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

Bangladesh State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said earlier this week at an event in the Indian state of Tripura that Bangladesh port authorities have the capacity to handle goods at full speed.

An agreement has also been signed between Bangladesh and India to use inland water transit for transportation of goods from West Bengal to India's seven eastern states through Bangladesh, he added.

He termed the agreement a "step forward" in realizing the commitment made in meetings between Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi.

There are a total of 16 routes between the two ports and northeastern Indian states, according to the NBR notice.

The development will drastically reduce the cost and time for India of transferring goods from one state to another. For instance, the land route between India's Kolkata and its northeastern states is more than 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) while Chattogram and Mongla ports are located at almost half the distance.

However, critics claim that it will be a one-sided benefit for India until such a facility is opened in Bangladesh and among countries in the region, including Nepal and Bhutan.​

 

[Saif]

বাংলাদেশের ভেতর দিয়ে ভারতের রেল যোগাযোগ পরিকল্পনা নিয়ে বিএনপির উদ্বেগ

শিলিগুড়ি করিডোর দিয়ে ২২ কিলোমিটার পথ বাইপাস করে বাংলাদেশের ভেতর দিয়ে রেললাইন বসানো হবে বলে ভারতের গণমাধ্যমে খবর প্রকাশিত হয়েছে।

bangla.thedailystar.net

বাংলাদেশের ভেতর দিয়ে ভারতের রেল যোগাযোগ পরিকল্পনা নিয়ে বিএনপির উদ্বেগ
শিলিগুড়ি করিডোর দিয়ে ২২ কিলোমিটার পথ বাইপাস করে বাংলাদেশের ভেতর দিয়ে রেললাইন বসানো হবে বলে ভারতের গণমাধ্যমে খবর প্রকাশিত হয়েছে।

ছবি: সংগৃহীত

বাংলাদেশের মধ্য দিয়ে ভারতের উত্তর-পূর্বাঞ্চলকে বাকি অংশের সঙ্গে যুক্ত করতে রেলপথে যোগাযোগ গড়ে তোলার ভারত সরকারের পরিকল্পনা নিয়ে উদ্বেগ প্রকাশ করেছে বিএনপি।

আজ মঙ্গলবার নয়াপল্টনে বিএনপির কেন্দ্রীয় কার্যালয়ে এক সংবাদ সম্মেলনে দলের উদ্বেগের কথা জানানো হয়।

এই উদ্যোগ দেশের গোয়েন্দা ব্যবস্থাকে দুর্বল করবে বলে দাবি করেন দলটির সিনিয়র যুগ্ম মহাসচিব রুহুল কবির রিজভী।

তিনি বলেন, শিলিগুড়ি করিডোর দিয়ে ২২ কিলোমিটার পথ বাইপাস করে বাংলাদেশের ভেতর দিয়ে রেললাইন বসানো হবে বলে গণমাধ্যমে খবর প্রকাশিত হয়েছে। ভারতীয় রেলওয়ে বোর্ড বাংলাদেশের ভেতর দিয়ে ভারতের সামরিক ও বেসামরিক পণ্য পরিবহনের জন্য রেল যোগাযোগ গড়ে তোলার উদ্যোগ নিয়েছে।

বিএনপি নেতা বলেন, 'নিশ্চয়ই বাংলাদেশের "ডামি সরকারের" প্রধানমন্ত্রীর অনুমতি নিয়েই এসব ঘটনা ঘটছে। এটা উদ্বেগজনক। আমরা এ ধরনের উদ্যোগের তীব্র প্রতিবাদ জানাচ্ছি।'

তিনি বলেন, ভারত প্রতিদিন সীমান্তে বাংলাদেশিদের হত্যা করছে। বাংলাদেশিদের মানবাধিকার উপেক্ষা করে বাংলাদেশের মধ্য দিয়ে উত্তর-পূর্বাঞ্চলে সামরিক ও বেসামরিক পণ্য পরিবহন করলে দেশের সার্বভৌমত্ব খর্ব হবে।

রিজভী বলেন, 'এই সংযোগ স্থাপনের মাধ্যমে বাংলাদেশের সার্বভৌমত্বের চাবি তাদেরই দেওয়া হবে, যারা বাংলাদেশের জনগণের বিরুদ্ধে বৈরী মানসিকতা পোষণ করে। এই পরিকল্পনা বাস্তবায়ন হলে স্বাধীন দেশের গোয়েন্দা ব্যবস্থাও ভেঙে পড়বে।'

তিনি দেশের জনগণের ইচ্ছার প্রতি সম্মান প্রদর্শন এবং দেশের স্বাধীনতা ও সার্বভৌমত্বের স্বার্থে রেল যোগাযোগের উদ্যোগ বাস্তবায়ন থেকে সরকারকে বিরত থাকার আহ্বান জানান।

বিএনপির এই নেতা বলেন, প্রধানমন্ত্রী শেখ হাসিনা 'ক্ষমতা আঁকড়ে থাকার জন্য ভারতের সঙ্গে অনেক গোপন চুক্তি করেছেন' এবং এখন স্বাভাবিকভাবেই এসব চুক্তি সামনে আসছে।

তিনি বলেন, 'জনগণের মতামতের তোয়াক্কা না করে শেখ হাসিনা শুধুমাত্র নিজের অবৈধ ক্ষমতার সুরক্ষা নিশ্চিত করতেই দেশের অভ্যন্তরে রেললাইন নির্মাণের অনুমতি দিচ্ছেন। কারণ তিনি একটি ডামি নির্বাচনের মাধ্যমে প্রধানমন্ত্রী হয়েছেন।'

রিজভী বলেন, 'শেখ হাসিনার সরকার জোর করে ক্ষমতায় আঁকড়ে থাকার জন্য জাতীয় স্বাধীনতা ও সার্বভৌমত্ব বিক্রি করতে শুরু করেছে। শেখ হাসিনা বাংলাদেশ-ভারত সম্পর্ককে প্রভু-সেবক' পর্যায়ে নিয়ে গেছেন। ভারতকে উদারভাবে সব দেওয়ার পরিণতি হবে ভয়াবহ।'

উল্লেখ্য, রোববার টাইমস অব ইন্ডিয়ায় প্রকাশিত এক প্রতিবেদনে বলা হয়েছে, শিলিগুড়ি করিডোর দিয়ে বিদ্যমান রুটের ওপর নির্ভরতা কমিয়ে বাংলাদেশের মধ্য দিয়ে রেলপথের একটি বিকল্প নেটওয়ার্ক গড়ে তুলতে যাচ্ছে ভারত।​

 

[Saif]

BNP raises alarm over Indian railway network plan via Bangladesh

BNP today voiced concern over the Indian government's plan to develop a network of railway tracks through Bangladesh to connect the northeast region with the rest of India

www.thedailystar.net

BNP raises alarm over Indian railway network plan via Bangladesh

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi

BNP today voiced concern over the Indian government's plan to develop a network of railway tracks through Bangladesh to connect the northeast region with the rest of India.

Speaking at a press conference at the BNP's Nayapaltan central office, the party's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi warned that this initiative will weaken the country's intelligence system.

"There's a media report that rail tracks will be set up through Bangladesh to connect the Indian Railways to the northeast with the rest of the country, bypassing a 22km route through the Siliguri Corridor, commonly known as the 'Chicken's Neck'," Rizvi said.

He said the Indian Railway Board has taken the initiative to build the rail network to transport Indian military and civilian goods through Bangladesh.

"Surely these things are happening with the permission of the prime minister of the 'dummy government' of Bangladesh. It is worrying. We strongly protest against such initiatives," the BNP leader said.

He said if India, which is "killing Bangladeshis" along the border daily and disregarding human rights and humanity of Bangladeshis, transports military and civilian goods to its northeast through Bangladesh, it will diminish the country's sovereignty.

"Through this establishment [rail network], the key to Bangladesh's sovereignty will be given to those who nurture a hostile mindset against the people of Bangladesh. The intelligence system of an independent country will also collapse if this plan is implemented," Rizvi said.

He called upon the government to stay away from implementing the initiative of the rail network, respecting the will of the country's people and for the sake of the country's independence and sovereignty.

The BNP leader said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has "signed many secret deals with India to cling to power" and these agreements are now naturally coming to light.

He also said Hasina has transformed Bangladesh-India relations into a "master-servant" relationship.

According to a report published by The Times of India on Sunday, India is set to develop an alternative network of railway tracks through Bangladesh to connect its northeast with the rest of the country, reducing reliance on the existing route through the Siliguri Corridor, commonly known as "Chicken's Neck" -- a 22 km wide strip hemmed in by Nepal to the north and Bangladesh on its south.​

 

[Saif]

Dhaka, Delhi may sign rail transit deal

Bangladesh and India are likely to sign a memorandum of understanding for using each other’s railway lines to boost cross-border connectivity.

www.thedailystar.net

Dhaka, Delhi may sign rail transit deal

Bangladesh and India are likely to sign a memorandum of understanding for using each other's railway lines to boost cross-border connectivity.

The deal is expected to be inked during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's two-day India visit starting today, Bangladesh Railway (BR) officials said.

As per the MoU, India will have access to BR tracks and Bangladesh will be able to use Indian Railways (IR) lines to operate passenger and freight trains up to Nepal and Bhutan borders, they said.

"An MoU on railway transit and transshipment is expected to be signed," BR Director General Sardar Shahadat Ali told The Daily Star yesterday.

Railways Secretary Humayun Kabir will accompany the prime minister to the signing ceremony, he said.

With the transshipment facility, Indian trains currently carry goods and passengers up to the India-Bangladesh border. From there, BR locomotives pull the coaches into Bangladesh and drop off passengers or unload goods before taking the coaches back to the border.

If India is allowed rail transit through Bangladesh under the new MoU, its trains will be operated from one part of India to another via Bangladesh.

The move comes at a time when India is set to develop an alternative railway network through Bangladesh to connect its Northeastern states with the rest of the country.

India plans to reduce reliance on the existing rail route through the Siliguri Corridor, commonly known as "Chicken's Neck", according to the Times of India.

The 22-km-wide strip, hemmed in by Nepal to the north and Bangladesh on its south, connects the seven northeast Indian states to the rest of the country.

According to a repot run by Times of India online on June 16, the planned project will feature 14 new routes connecting Bangladesh, spanning 861km, and alternative routes to the Northeast, bringing the total length of sanctioned tracks to 1,275.5km.

The initiative will involve gauge conversion of existing tracks and construction of new ones in Bangladesh, reads the report.

In November 2010, India and Bangladesh for the first time signed a transit agreement for waterways.

The two neighbours in 2015 inked a protocol allowing India to use four river routes via Bangladesh. The routes would link Kolkata and Murshidabad to Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya.

RAIL TRANSIT

Before the partition of India in 1947, there was seamless railway communication between different regions of India and Bangladesh through eight interchanges. Five of them -- Benapole-Petrapole, Darshana-Gede, Rohanpur-Singabadh, Biral-Radhikarpur and Chilahati-Haldibari -- have been revived in recent years.

During a high-level meeting with a BR delegation in April 2022, an Indian delegation discussed rail transit issues. Both sides agreed to work out the finer details and obtain necessary approvals from the authorities concerned, show documents.

Besides, the Indian authorities placed the transit proposal during then Bangladesh railways minister Nurul Islam Sujan's meeting with his Indian counterpart in New Delhi in June that year and the Bangladesh side agreed to examine the proposal.

Last year, Indian Railways put forward a proposal to the BR for carrying out trial runs of a freight train from West Bengal's Gede to Haldibari via Bangladesh.

The proposed route is Gede (West Bengal)-Darshana-Ishwardi-Abdulpur-Parbatipur-Chilahati-Haldibari (West Bengal).

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

Dhaka, Delhi working together to enhance connectivity: Official

Bangladesh and India are working together to enhance connectivity and take it to a higher level, both physical and digital, in several ways, says a senior official at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. The initiatives are being taken so that the two countries can strengthen their trade conne

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Dhaka, Delhi working together to enhance connectivity: Official
Published :
Jun 29, 2024 19:25
Updated :
Jun 29, 2024 19:26

Bangladesh and India are working together to enhance connectivity and take it to a higher level, both physical and digital, in several ways, says a senior official at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

The initiatives are being taken so that the two countries can strengthen their trade connections, people-to-people connections, and several other projects that they are doing together and bring the relationship to a higher level, he said, reports UNB.

"We both countries are working together to enhance connectivity to a higher level," spokesperson at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal told reporters in New Delhi on Friday during a weekly media briefing.

Regarding rail connectivity, a journalist wanted to know whether there will be any convenience fee or some monetary matters involved and whether there will be any paramilitary or security forces deployed when the trains will be passing by those territories.

In reply, the MEA spokesperson said, "As far as your questions on fees, on security aspects, these are very technical questions. These will be addressed as and when they come up for discussion in the technical committee and between the two governments."

During Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's two-day state visit to New Delhi on June 21-22, Bangladesh and India signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for railway connectivity.

The MoU for railway was on the connectivity between the two railways.

Earlier, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said connectivity continues to remain one of the central pillars of India-Bangladesh partnership.

"We believe that connectivity can transform geographical proximity into new economic opportunities, not just between India and Bangladesh, but also for the entire region," he said while briefing the media after the state visit.

In this respect, he said, they are starting a new passenger train service between Rajshahi and Kolkata, while trial run for a goods train on Bangladesh railway from a place called Gede-Darshana to Haldibari-Chilahati cross-border interchange point is planned for next month sometime.

"This will also help sub-regional connectivity with Bhutan," said the Indian Foreign Secretary, adding that there are already about six cross-border railway links, besides the importance of cross-border railway linkages.

Another crucial aspect of this railway connectivity is the transit that they afford between different parts of India through the territory of Bangladesh and the discussions today focused on that, he said.

"So it's effectively a connectivity paradigm that actually benefits both countries, both societies, and both economies very, very extensively," Kwatra said.​