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The two-day transport secretary-level assembly between Bangladesh and India commenced in Dhaka on December 19, 2023. The discussions encompassed three high-level dialogues between the Governments of India and Bangladesh in Dhaka, specifically the Delivery Secretary Degree Talks (SSLT), the twenty second Assembly of the Standing Committee (SCM) below the Protocol on Inland Water Transit & Commerce (PIWT&T), and the third Assembly of the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) on the utilization of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for the reciprocal motion of products. These engagements concluded efficiently in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The delegation representing the Delivery Secretary Degree Talks and the third Inter-Governmental Committee assembly was led by Shri T.Okay. Ramachandran, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Delivery & Waterways, from the Indian facet, and Mr. Md. Mostafa Kamal, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Delivery, from Bangladesh. For the twenty second Standing Committee assembly on PIWT&T, the delegation was headed by Shri Sanjay Bandopadhyaya, Chairman, IWAI, from India, and Sheikh Md. Sharif Uddin, Further Secretary, Ministry of Delivery, from Bangladesh. Within the context of a globally disrupted supply-chain, characterised by distortions, these diplomatic approaches play a pivotal position in fostering a renewed paradigm of collaboration inside the area of connectivity and commerce.
Bangladesh and India share deep-rooted connections of historical past, language, and tradition, fostering a relationship that transcends mere strategic partnership. India demonstrated its help for Bangladesh by swiftly recognizing its independence in December 1971 and establishing diplomatic relations. This enduring bilateral relationship is characterised by ideas of equality, belief, sovereignty, and mutual understanding. Bangladesh holds a major place as India’s largest buying and selling companion within the subcontinent, representing the second-largest export companion with a considerable share of 12% in complete exports to Bangladesh. Within the fiscal 12 months 2022-2023, the general commerce turnover reached US$ 14.22 billion. Concerning exports from India to Bangladesh, a various vary of 6,050 commodities have been exported in FY23, totaling US$ 12.20 billion, in comparison with US$ 16.15 billion in FY22. Key export gadgets embody numerous commodities (US$ 1.17 billion), cotton yarn (US$ 1.02 billion), petroleum merchandise (US$ 816 million), different cereals (US$ 556 million), and cotton materials, made-ups, and so forth. (US$ 541 million) in FY23. Throughout April-Might 2023 alone, exports to Bangladesh amounted to US$ 1.67 billion. On the import facet, India acquired 1,155 commodities from Bangladesh in FY23, accounting for US$ 2.02 billion, barely larger than the US$ 1.97 billion in FY22. Principal imported gadgets from Bangladesh embody RMG cotton (US$ 510 million), cotton materials, made-ups, and so forth. (US$ 153 million), RMG artifical fibers (US$ 142 million), spices (US$ 125 million), and jute (US$ 103 million) in FY23. The imports from Bangladesh throughout April-Might 2023 amounted to US$ 278 million. Implementing such preparations will help the expansion and growth of commerce and commerce.
The Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Commerce between Bangladesh and India, in accordance with Article VIII of the commerce settlement between the 2 nations, was established to facilitate mutually useful preparations for using their waterways for commerce and the passage of products. The settlement permits for the motion of products between two areas inside one nation and to 3rd nations by means of the territory of the opposite, primarily based on mutually agreed-upon phrases. The PIWT&T, initially signed in 1972, has remained in impact repeatedly and was set to run out on March 31, 2020. Key options of the protocol embody specified routes, comparable to Kolkata-Chandpur-Pandu-Silghat-Kolkata and Kolkata-Chandpur-Karimganj-Kolkata, and 5 Ports of Name on both sides to help vessels engaged in inter-country commerce. The time period “vessel” refers to watercraft registered below the Inland Delivery Ordinance, 1976 for Bangladesh vessels and the Inland Vessels Act, 1917 for Indian vessels. The protocol permits vessels to buy fuels and important provides at designated factors, and voyage permission have to be obtained from the Competent Authorities appointed by the respective governments. Widespread freight charges, fastened mutually by Competent Authorities, apply to operators in each nations for inter-country commerce and transit visitors. Port dues could also be levied by competent authorities in both nation on vessels engaged in inter-country commerce. The Competent Authorities for Bangladesh are the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, whereas for India, it’s the Inland Waterways Authority of India.
Earlier than this growth, India had acquired authorization for industrial transport of products to its personal area by means of Bangladesh’s Chattogram and Mongla ports. The Nationwide Board of Income (NBR) issued a everlasting transit order in April 2023 for this objective. The NBR order specifies that customs procedures for transit and transshipment items will adhere to the Commonplace Working Process (SOP) outlined within the Settlement on using Chattogram and Mongla Ports for Motion of Items (ACMP) between Bangladesh and India. This transit order marks the permission for the neighboring nation to move items to its personal territory utilizing the 2 Bangladeshi ports going ahead. The order establishes 16 transit routes, together with Chattogram-Akhaura-Agartala, Mongla-Akhaura-Agartala, Tamabil-Dauki, Sheola-Sutarkandi, and Bibirbazar-Shrimantpur routes.
Bangladesh and India collectively make the most of water and coastal routes for the transportation of cargo and passengers alongside the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route and Coastal routes. These routes play a vital position as they provide different connectivity to the North Japanese Area of India by means of Bangladesh. Notably, the cargo dealt with by the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route on the Indian facet has seen a exceptional enhance of 170%, rising from 2 MMTPA in 2014-15 to five.4 MMTPA.
The current sequence of discussions throughout three key conferences geared toward resolving commerce points and fostering Inland Water Transport (IWT) and Coastal Delivery between the 2 nations have yielded substantial selections with far-reaching implications for regional commerce and safety.
Within the Delivery Secretary Degree Talks, deliberations coated vital issues comparable to facilitating visa issuance, offering shore-leave amenities, and guaranteeing the repatriation of seafarers. The settlement was reached to designate land routes at LCS Radhikapur (Birol) and Hodibari (Chilahati) to reinforce commerce and connectivity. Moreover, the inclusion of Dhamra Port as a Port of Name below the Coastal Delivery Settlement was explored. Bangladesh expressed its willingness to make the most of the Pangaon container terminal for transshipment of containers till the Ashuganj Inland Container Terminal turns into totally operational. Moreover, the institution of a drop-in heart for Bangladesh close to Kolkata inside the subsequent 4 months was determined. A technical group from Bangladesh will examine the technical feasibility and industrial viability of third-party EXIM commerce for the mutual good thing about each nations. An settlement was made to increase the IBP route, designating Safardighi as a brand new port of name below PIWT&T. Each nations agreed to promptly kind a technical group to evaluate the inclusion of the Chandpur-Chittagong stretch as an IBP route below PIWT&T.
Throughout the Standing Committee assembly on PIWT&T, Bangladesh dedicated to establishing a joint committee to implement a typical Computerized Identification System (AIS) on the IBP route, enhancing vessel navigation and monitoring. The inclusion of the Mongla-Jamtola stretch for passenger and cruise vessels to go to the Sunderbans space in Bangladesh was additionally agreed upon. Moreover, Bangladesh is ready to submit a proposal for the event of IBP routes 5 & 6 and 9 & 10 on an 80:20 sharing foundation, topic to examination by the Indian facet for potential implementation.
Within the Inter-Governmental Committee assembly, each nations agreed to think about the inclusion of Payra Sea Port within the Settlement on using Chattogram and Mongla Ports for Motion of Items (ACMP) for the motion of products between the 2 nations. Moreover, the route from Sabroom through Ramgarh and vice versa was explored as an extra route below ACMP, contingent upon the supply of vital port, customs, and associated amenities. The discussions additionally addressed points associated to the expedited berthing of vessels/barges utilizing ACMP commerce routes. These complete deliberations and agreements are anticipated to considerably contribute to the enhancement of regional commerce and safety.
The current two-day Delivery Secretary Degree Assembly between Bangladesh and India in Dhaka marked a major step in strengthening their enduring partnership. The discussions coated vital dialogues on Inland Water Transit & Commerce and the utilization of ports for reciprocal motion of products. Led by high-ranking officers, these talks addressed commerce challenges and alternatives, emphasizing connectivity enhancements and resolving logistical points. The agreements, together with the current authorization for India’s industrial transport by means of Bangladeshi ports, signify a dedication to boosting regional commerce. Within the face of a disrupted international provide chain, these strategic measures underscore a renewed collaboration for elevated connectivity and commerce resilience between the 2 nations.
The views and opinions expressed on this article are these of the creator.
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