Talks open to finalise agreement for allowing India to use Bangladesh seaports

Talks to finalise agreements allowing India to use the seaports in Chittagong and Mongla have opened in Dhaka.

The meeting between delegations of the countries headed by Bangladesh Shipping Secretary Ashoke Madhab Roy and his Indian counterpart Rajive Kumar kicked off on Tuesday at the Secretariat.  
 
Roy said they would discuss over deals on four matters, including a new container terminal at Patukhali's Payra Port. "The committees for water protocol route had a meeting yesterday and today the secretary-level talks begin." 
 
He said four matters will be discussed -- use of Chittagong and Mongla ports, new container terminal for Mongla port, using of lighthouses and lighter vessels and plying of cruise ships.
 
"We will further discuss the matter of using ports and finalise the agreement on it." 
 
Replying a query on the fees for using the ports, the shipping secretary said that these kinds of deals have three phases- MoU, agreement and standard operating procedure (SOP).
 
He said the SOP will address the issue of fees. 
 
"We will finalise the agreement only," said Roy adding that it stipulates forming a panel of high-level officials of the countries to chalk out the SOP.
 
India will be allowed to use the ports according to the worldwide standard, no special facility will be provided, he added. "They will have to pay all the charges in case of using ports in other countries. All the charges, including customs will be applicable." 
 
On the note of the Payra container terminal, Roy said that India would either go for PPP (Public Private Partnership) or directly investment for it. "It has been initially agreed that an Indian company from the private sector will be appointed for it." 
  He said that they have forwarded a primary development project pro forma to the Economic Relations Division for financing the Payra port. "As many as 125 countries have expressed interest, including India."
 
Roy said tourist and cruise ships will operate between the countries within a specific route, which will be finalised during the meeting.
 
He, however, said until now it has been agreed that passengers will not be allowed to get off from the ships.
 
"But we have agreed on a three-day on arrival visa for crews. The matter of tourists might be discussed in the next meeting. We will decide on it after trial runs of cruise ships." 
 
Indian Shipping Secretary Rajive Kumar said that several Indian companies have expressed interest over the building the Payra container terminal, including one Indian Port Global.
 
Replying a query, he said, "We are trying to complete the agreement and SOP as soon as possible. We hope it can be done within a month."