First successful trans-shipment spells new era in India-Bangladesh relations

In yet another move towards improving India-Bangladesh relations through mutual cooperation, the first vehicle loaded with steel rods has reached Agartala.

The goods, which arrived on Sunday afternoon, are part of the first consignment since the inauguration of the trans-shipment facility between the two neighours under the revised Inland Water Transit and Trade Protocol.

The trans-shipment facility - combining riverine and land routes - will now enable India to deliver goods to its landlocked northeast via Bangladesh in an estimated one-third of the normal time and reduce transport costs by nearly 50 per cent.

Mubarak Hussain Bhuiya, a businessman from Bangladesh said, “This will benefit the people and the business community of Tripura because the transportation of commodities by ship is cheaper than that by road.”

He hoped this new movement would further improve the India-Bangladesh relations in future, adding, “Today 84 tonnes have reached their destination. Gradually, this shipment alone will reach 1004 tonnes.”

A total of 84 tonnes of rods in four lorries entered Agartala, the capital of Tripura, through Akhaura land port from Ashuganj port in Bangladesh.

Four days back, a ship from West Bengal’s Haldia port carrying 1004 tonnes of steel rods reached Ashuganj river port in Bangladesh.

Sishir Dey, Superintendent Customs at Agartala ICP said, “We are not purchasing anything from Bangladesh but our traders will pay taxes for transporting goods through their territory.”

He further explained that if goods have to come from Kolkata to Agartala, they must cover a long route via Meghalaya and Assam. But now Bangladesh has allowed using its water route and land routes. This will reduce the distance and costs.

The Haldia-Ashuganj-Agartala (West Bengal-Bangladesh-Tripura) transit through a river route and land route crossing Bangladesh territory cuts the Kolkata-Agartala distance via Siliguri's 'chicken neck' from 1600 km to 800 km.

Moreover, the reduced distance cuts the transportation costs from mainland India to the northeastern region from 67 US dollars to 35 US dollars per tonne, and the time from 30 days to just 10 days. India pays transit fees of Tk 192.25 per tonne as negotiated between the two countries.

The revised Inland Water Transit & Trade Protocol under the India-Bangladesh Bilateral Trade Agreement gives India and Bangladesh the right to each other's territory for transiting goods to third countries and was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Dhaka in June last year.

Bangladesh can also use Indian territory to transit goods to Nepal and Bhutan while India can access Myanmar via Bangladesh. The protocol facilitates trade and development not only between India and Bangladesh but in the entire sub-region facilitating trade and development.

In addition, there are people on both sides of the border who feel that improved relations between India and Bangladesh will also help cure terrorism, a common threat to both nations.

Md Takjil Khalifa, mayor of Akhaura said: “There were Indian terrorists hiding in Bangladesh territory and similarly Bangladeshi terrorists in India. Under the present government, these militant camps have been dismantled permanently.”