Staff Reporter :Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Executive Director Prof Mustafizur Rahman on Saturday has underscored the need for monitoring the implementation of the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement (MVA) with a view to promoting regional connectivity effectively. The MVA will reduce transport costs and foster the development of multimodal transport and transit facilities that will increase connectivity and promote greater trade among the BBIN countries, said the Executive Director while addressing a dialogue on “Trade Facilitation in South Asia through Transport Connectivity: Operationalising the Motor Vehicle Agreements (MVAs),” in BRAC Centre Inn in the city.He presented the keynote paper in which he mentioned that South Asia continued to remain the most disconnected region in the world, with high business cost and missed opportunities.Chaired by CPD Chairman Professor Rehman Sobhan, trade and connectivity experts, diplomats, policymakers and government officials were present at the dialogue to discuss how Bangladesh could gain from the BBIB MVA.According to the statement, all the four countries will endeavour to carry out a six-month work-plan from July to December 2015. On June 15, transport ministers from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) met in Thimphu to finalise the Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) for the Regulation of Passenger, Personal and Cargo Vehicular Traffic between the BBIN countries.Comprehensive multimodal connectivity in South Asia critically hinges on implementation of the BBIN MVA, said Prof Rehman Sobhan. Professor Rahman recommended for designing widely accepted implementation modalities to ensure win-win outcome and ensuring access to information regarding implementation progress.Addressing as the chief guest, Md Obaidul Quader, Minister for Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges mentioned that the borders will no longer be treated as separators. He emphasised the necessity of field visit to ensure quality of work.Addressing as a special guest, Pankaj Saran, High Commissioner of Indian said that the growing trade between Bangladesh and India in past few years indicates an important structural change in how the two countries deal with each other. The land ports suffer from traffic congestion and backlogs of vehicles. To resolve this, connectivity needs to go beyond roads, involving all four modes including coastal shipping, waterways and railways.Abdul Matlub Ahmad, President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) said the MVA will facilitate huge benefits for logistic business. He stressed for tracking mechanism of vehicles for operational and security concerns.CPD Distinguished Fellows Professor Rounaq Jahan and Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya took part the floor discussion session.
