It’s now the job of the Ministry of Commerce to coordinate transit and connectivity affairs in line with the allocation of business; an inter-ministry meeting decides this as many trans-border communications deals are being dealt with. The decision comes since different ministries and divisions indulge in completion of transit or connectivity-related various bilateral and multilateral deals and memorandum of understanding in scattered ways. The government, however, thinks that these activities need proper coordination to make the most of these pacts involving trade and commerce, and transportation.
Sources said, the meeting discussed some of the initiatives, including the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN), Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM), South Asian Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Regional Integration, Asian Highways, Silk Road, and One-Belt, One-Road arrangements where other ministries and divisions have signed various documents. But the Rules of Business 1996, revised in April 2017 titled ‘Transit Trade through Bangladesh’ have allocated the authority of completion of commercial transit-related activities to the Ministry of Commerce. The meeting was told that the Ministry of Shipping had signed 15 instruments with India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Thailand for setting up regional connectivity. Besides, it has taken initiative to sign deals on the setting up of bilateral waterway connectivity with far-off countries like Qatar and Cyprus. Presently we have rail communications with India on five routes and works are underway to set up two more cross-border routes.
In the process of globalisation, the world has experienced surges of regional integration initiatives. South and South-east Asian countries, however, have lagged behind the rest of the world in the process of regional integration and hence remained relatively isolated from each other for many years. Recognising the benefits that enhanced connectivity may offer, many Asian countries are now pursuing regional connectivity under various regional initiatives. Located in an advantageous geographical position, Bangladesh can play a crucial and strategic role in connecting South and South-east Asia.
The National Board of Revenue pointed out that many ministries had taken on different activities and projects on connectivity and transit issues on their own, though the matters are of high national stakes. It feels the Ministry of Commerce in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could take decisions on these issues to make those more beneficial in the case of trade and commerce. In the case of regional communications Bangladesh is not reportedly getting expected results, indicating the fault-line in trans-border transportation. We suggest well-thought-out deals while signing any accord on regional or sub-regional matters taking the national interest at the highest consideration.
