Six possible routes identified for BBIN traffic movement

Six possible routes have been identified to connect Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) by land, Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader has said.

They will be used by vehicles carrying passengers and cargo.

BBIN transport ministers inked an agreement on June 15 to facilitate the movement of people and goods among the countries.

Joint secretaries from these nations met in Dhaka on Monday to carry the plan forward.

Quader told the media after the meeting that the possible routes were Kolkata to Chittagong via Benapole-Jessore-Dhaka; from Chittagong to Shiligurhi via Dhaka-Hatikumrul-Bogra-Rangpur-Burhimari.

A third route is from Dhaka to Bhutan's Thimphu via Hatikumrul-Bogra-Rangpur-Burhimari through India's Chengrhabanda-Joygaon and Bhutan's Phuentsholing.

In addition, there is a Dhaka-Kathmandu route via Hatikumrul-Bogra-Rangpur-Banglabanda through India's Phulbarhi-Panitanki and Nepal's Kakrhavita; Kolkata to Bhutan's Samdrup Jongkhar via Dhaka-Sarail-Sylhet-Tamabil through India's Dauki-Shillong-Guwahati; and Khulna to Kolkata via Jessore-Benapole.

Quader said the issue of easing visa processing under the BBIN agreement would be tabled in October when Bangladesh and India's home secretaries meet.

He said Monday's meeting decided that the countries would take initiatives to sign a protocol on the movement of passenger and cargo vehicles under the agreement by December.

There will be a cross-border cargo trial run in the October-November period to reach a consensus, he added.

A motor rally will be organised with BBIN representatives from Nov 14 to Dec 1.

"It will start in India's Bhubaneswar and enter Bangladesh through Akhaurha via the Nepal-Bhutan-Assam-Tripura route. It will cross the border through Benapole before finishing at Kolkata," the minister said.