Agencies / DHAKA
Bangladesh Government Tuesday approved a proposed agreement with New Delhi enabling the neighbouring country to use Chattogram and Mongla ports for goods movement to and from India.
“The weekly cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave the approval to this effect,” Cabinet Secretary Md. Shafiul Alam told a media briefing here.
Alam said the agreement would allow India to use Chattogram and Mongla ports to carry goods to their North Eastern states in a very short time. “The draft suggested the agreement to be effective for five years with a provision of auto renewal for another five years (while) either of the countries could cancel it giving six month notice,” he said.
Four routes were suggested for the goods movements which are – Chattogram Port/ Mongla Port-Agartala via Akhaura; Chattogram/Mongla-Daouki via Tamabil; Chattogram/ Mongla-Sutarkandi via Sheola; and Chattogram/Mongla-Bibekbazar via Simantapur.
But, Alam said, under the agreement only Bangladeshi vehicles and vessels would be used to carry the goods inside Bangladesh. “Primarily the agreement will be signed between Bangladesh and India and Nepal and Bhutan can also join the pact,” the cabinet secretary said.
The draft deal said Bangladesh authorities would use tracking systems like global positioning system (GPS), e-lock and e-seal to identify the goods carrying vessels.
“A major objective of the proposed agreement was to strengthen the existing cordial bilateral ties,” Alam said.