Desk Report
Publish: 07 Sep 2022, 06:12 pm
PM Hasina with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi || Photo: Collected
India has offered free transit
via its territory to Bangladesh for exporting its products to third countries
through specified land customs stations, airports, and seaports.
In this regard, the Indian side
invited the Bangladesh business community for using its port infrastructure for
transshipment to third countries.
The Indian side informed it
during delegation-level bilateral talks visiting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi held at Hyderabad House in New Delhi
on Tuesday.
India has also been providing
free transit to Bangladesh for exporting its products to Nepal and Bhutan,
according to the joint statement issued on Wednesday.
The Bangladesh side requested
rail connectivity with Bhutan through the newly inaugurated Chilahati –
Haldibari route.
The Indian side agreed to
consider the request, based on its viability and feasibility.
To make this and other cross-border rail links viable, the Indian side requested the Bangladesh side to
remove port restrictions, inter alia at the Chilahati – Haldibari crossing.
The two leaders agreed to
expedite efforts to improve bilateral and sub-regional connectivity through the early operationalization of the BBIN motor vehicle agreement.
The Indian side requested the
Bangladesh side for cooperation in initiating new sub-regional connectivity
projects including a highway from Hili in West Bengal to Mahendraganj in
Meghalaya through Bangladesh and, in this regard, proposed preparation of a
detailed project report.
In the same spirit, Bangladesh
reiterated its eagerness to partner in the ongoing initiative of the India –
Myanmar - Thailand trilateral highway project.
The two leaders underscored the
importance of implementing bilateral and sub-regional rail, road, and other
connectivity initiatives.
Both sides welcomed the ongoing
bilateral initiatives, such as conversion to dual-gauge of Tongi-Akhaura line,
supply of railway rolling stock, capacity building for the personnel of
Bangladesh Railway, sharing of IT solutions for improved services of Bangladesh
Railway, etc.
Both sides also welcomed the new
initiatives, namely, the Kaunia-Lalmonirhat-Mogalghat-New Gitaldaha link,
establishing a link between Hili and Birampur, upgradation of track and
signaling systems and railway stations along the Benapole-Jashore line, link
restoration between Burimari and Changrabandha, construction of a container
depot at Sirajganj.
And both sides agreed to explore
funding of these projects through a range of financial instruments under the
bilateral development cooperation.
The Bangladesh side welcomed the
gesture of India for providing 20 broad-gauge diesel locomotives on the grant.
The two leaders welcomed the
successful completion of trial runs under the agreement on the use of the
Chattogram and Mongla Ports (ACMP) and looked forward to its full
operationalization at the earliest.
The Indian side reiterated its
request to work towards the expansion of the bilateral Coastal Shipping
Agreement of 2015 to include third-country EXIM cargo.
The two sides agreed to
expeditiously explore direct shipping links between the two countries.
They also agreed to implement the
decision to start riverine services under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit
and Trade (PIWTT) routes 5 & 6 (Dhulian to Rajshahi -extension to Aricha)
and 9 & 10 (Daudkandi to Sonamura).
The Indian side requested
Bangladesh to complete the remaining infrastructure, immigration, and customs
facilities for the operationalization of the Maitri Bridge over River Feni,
connecting Tripura with Bangladesh, at an early date.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is
making an official visit to India from September 5-8 at the invitation of her
Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
During the visit, she called on the President of India Droupadi Murmu, and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
External Affairs Minister S
Jaishankar and Minister of Development of North Eastern Region G. Kishan Reddy
called on her.
Subscribe Shampratik Deshkal Youtube Channel
Topic : India Bangladesh Free Transit South Asia
© 2024 Shampratik Deshkal All Rights Reserved. Design & Developed By Root Soft Bangladesh