Staff Reporter Bangladesh has been negotiating with India for a long time regarding transit. There are many talks about transit in the internal politics of the country.
Who is speaking for it and who is against it. This has been going on for several years. After the Awami League government came to power in 1996, a lot of progress was made with this transit. But after 5 years when BNP came to power again, the transit issue stopped again. We believe that India has a good relationship with the Awami League government. And so when the Awami League came to power, the unresolved issues with India naturally came to the fore. We also think that Awami League is in power now, so it is important to settle the unresolved issues with India. However, the interests of the country should not be undermined in all matters. While it is true that some parties have to make a little more concessions to reach an agreement, both sides need to take care that the two countries live side by side and India's commendable role at the time of Bangladesh's birth continues today. And if you proceed with this attitude, solving the problem is certainly not difficult.
Helal Uddin wrote in one of his articles in daily Yugantari about transit, there is a disagreement between Bangladesh and India regarding transit for a fixed or indefinite period. According to India, there are strong objections to non-permanent renewable transit. A change in attitude of the political government may later become risky. But the government has strong objection to this demand. Nowhere in the world is a transit system in place for eternity. It is also considered risky for the sovereignty of the country. Bangladesh does not want to give this opportunity to India now. The concerned policy makers are in favor of phased extension after initial 5 or maximum 10 year contract. Everything depends on India's sincerity towards Bangladesh issue and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's decision. However, the Prime Minister's financial adviser. Mashiur Rahman agreed with India's proposal. In a related letter, he expressed his written opinion, 'Period transit cannot remove uncertainty and is not conducive to necessary investment'.
Meanwhile, it is said that this matter will be of utmost importance during the upcoming visit of the Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Dhaka. Bangladesh government also wants to implement fast transit. But for that, the policy makers want to proceed a little slowly after completing the infrastructural development preparations. Public opinion and political reaction to such an agreement is also being carefully considered.
Advisor to the Prime Minister. Moshiur Rahman submitted a report on February 7. After visiting Ashuganj river port and customs and immigration office at Akhaura border under sub-regional cooperation, he recommended the start of integrated development activities in three sectors in the interest of effective transit, port, rail and road. For this reason, it has been decided to make a high level committee of 8 members on his proposal. The committee will have representatives from the National Board of Revenue, Department of Economic Relations, Department of Finance and Planning Commission besides the Ministry of Commerce, Shipping, Railways and Communications. It is known that within four months after the recommendation of the committee, the government will formally negotiate with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for easy interest financial support for the development of transit infrastructure.
Meanwhile, no more trial run can be conducted until the infrastructure preparation of Ashuganj port and Ashuganj-Akhaura road is completed - the decision has been cancelled. A high-level inter-ministerial meeting on transit/transshipment held in October under the chairmanship of the shipping secretary unanimously decided that 'Indian cargo vessels will no longer be piloted through Bangladesh'. But the advisor to the Prime Minister. Gauhar Rizvi and Dr. Moshiur Rahman refused to accept this decision. For now, they have decided that there will be two more trials of transshipment and Indian cargo ships will be able to send goods to Tripura twice. Then the full transit will begin. Meanwhile, from the experience of conducting trial runs, problems are being identified in regular transit operations. The process of solving it is going on with the help of the two countries within six months. The policy makers of the two countries have taken a policy decision in this regard. India wants full cargo transportation from the middle of this year. Prior to this, infrastructural development is starting rapidly. Government sources, who did not want to be named, said that there is continued pressure from India to start the transit process quickly.
Meanwhile, Dr. transit and transshipment. According to Mashiur's report, the infrastructure of Ashuganj seaport is inadequate for anchoring and other services of domestic and Indian ships. If the transit system is well established, Indian goods transport will increase. Infrastructure expansion and development activities should be undertaken in phases. Regarding transit, he said, currently renewable transit contracts are made for a fixed period. Despite differences in approach or policy of different party governments, the renewable term transit system continues. This system does not eliminate uncertainty and is not conducive to the necessary investment. Moreover, the use of Ashuganj port for transit is associated with three other transport systems. These are the use of Chittagong port for Indian goods; Transport capacity of Ashuganj-Akhaura road and sending Indian goods from Chittagong or Mongla by train or river to Ashuganj or Tripura state.
Dr. emphasized on the road reform of Bangladesh to suit the Indian traffic. Moshiur's proposal is that the Ashuganj-Akhaura road is narrow, very inadequate for Indian heavy truck traffic and import-export trade. The road needs to be upgraded to two lanes with bridge widening and strengthened to accommodate heavy goods vehicles. Arrangements will be needed to bring Indian goods by train from Chittagong. Existing railways can meet limited needs. But if transit increases, double line will be required.
Regarding the financing of infrastructural development, the adviser said, ADB and the World Bank provide financial support for sub-regional cooperation. For Bangladesh, these two organizations will provide assistance on flexible terms. If the loan amount is large, ADB lends from ordinary capital resources. Which has higher service charges and interest rates. The World Bank is also interested in participating in sub-regional assistance. But has not participated in any project so far. ERD may take up the matter informally with both institutions. Later after considering the report of the committee, formal discussions can be held with development partners including World Bank, ADB.
After all it is good that India will take our transit. But with India's recent treatment of Tipaimukh dam and the way India is behaving despite the Farakka water agreement, the transit agreement should be carefully considered. Moreover, the way India is killing the citizens of Bangladesh at the border, all the issues need to be resolved first if any agreement is to be made with India.
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