This is the first-ever initiative of its kind in which the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran, Bhutanese ambassador Pema Choden, and Nepalese Ambassador Hari Kumar Shrestha are together visiting the border areas.
Bangladesh’s foreign ministry’s director (South Asia) Zahid-ul Islam is travelling with them as the country’s representative.
used by the traders of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal.
The visit comes ahead of the SAARC summit on Nov 26 and Nov 27 in Kathmandu.
The Indian High Commission had earlier said the visit was focused on sub-regional cooperation in the crucial areas of trade, transit, border infrastructure, and connectivity.
Humayun Kabir, a former secretary in the Bangladesh foreign ministry, welcomed the move.
In a brief reaction, he described it as “a good initial initiative”.
“But all will depend how it develops further,” Kabir, who in his long diplomatic career served the ambassador to Nepal, and in Kolkata as Deputy High Commissioner, told bdnews24.com.
“Perhaps it’ll lead to more programmes for greater cooperation,” he hoped.
“I would say it a welcome move”.
He said apart from trade and connectivity, “we can together think how to share natural resources like water and electricity”.
He also saw it as “positive” in the context of SAARC regional cooperation.
Assessing border infrastructure
Bangladesh’s trade with India, Bhutan and Nepal was growing, though according to the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it was still in favour of those countries.
In the 2012-2013 financial year, Bangladesh imported goods worth nearly $ 25million from Bhutan but its exports to that country was worth only $ 1.82 million.
Trade is heavily tilted towards India as in 2012-2013 India exported more than $ 4.7billion worth of goods compared to Bangladesh’s exports worth $563 million.
Nepal also exported $ 35.6 million worth of product compare to Bangladesh’s exports of $ 26.41 million.
Land ports are mainly used for Bangladesh’s trade with these three neighbours.
The envoys left Bangladesh side on Sunday through the northern Burimari—Changrabandha border where the land customs station caters to trade between both Bangladesh and India, and Bangladesh and Bhutan.
At least 50 Bhutanese and 100 Indian trucks enter or exit this station every day.
Besides, about 50 Bangladeshi trucks enter India through this border for exports to Bhutan.
Apart from this land customs station, they will visit Phuentsholing-Jaigaon (Bhutan-India), Kakarbhitta-Panitanki (Nepal-India) and Phulbari-Banglabandha (India-Bangladesh) before returning to Dhaka on Nov 12.
The Phulbari-Banglabandha land customs station caters to trade between Bangladesh and India, and Bangladesh and Nepal.
Approximately 80 to 100 Indian and 15 to 20 Nepal trucks enter Bangladesh every day through this border.
About 20 to 30 trucks carrying goods from Bangladesh to Nepal also pass through this border.
The Indian High Commission says the team would see the existing infrastructure and facilities, and meet land port officials including customs and immigration at the border points.
They will also assess the infrastructure for trade and the working of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for entry of Bhutanese and Nepalese trucks into Bangladesh territory.
During the visit, they will also hold discussions with different business and trade bodies.