SOME national dailies on Friday reported that India has started first ever trial run of the much-talked-about transshipment of goods to its north-eastern states through Chattogram Port. A ship left Kolkata Port on Thursday with 108 containers of goods which included four containers loaded with rods and pulses meant for Tripura and Karimgonj in Assam. The Indian cargo will enter Tripura through Akhaura-Agartala land port. Based on this trial run India is preparing to begin full-fledged transshipment to the north-east.
As per an agreement signed in 2018 and a standard operating procedure (SoP) Bangladesh Prime Minister signed in Indian capital in October last year, India will only pay a nominal transshipment fees and other service costs. Moreover its cargo will have priority in terms of loading and unloading at Chattogram Port over Bangladeshi exporters and importers.
A Port official on a question said they are not the one to give an answer on the tricky issue. Obviously they understand the fallout but as government servant they can’t speak out. A pro-government business leader in Port City however said traditionally guests must be served first. In fact, it is not that such people within the ruling Awami League don’t understand its implication but as diehard party men they have no answer while the nation can’t protest under a totalitarian regime.
We are not against the Indian government use of Chattogram Port, this is a time for togetherness but it does not mean that they would not pay standard fees. Why they should have also priority overloading and unloading at the cost of Bangladesh business; it makes the matter complicated. It is an open sell out of national interest infringing our sovereignty in the port. India is taking away every undue concession however sidetracking legitimate issues for Bangladesh like Teesta Water Sharing or easy market access eligible to Bangladeshi goods under existing trade agreements.
It appears our government is incapable to protect our interest or even to speak loudly about it to raise question where the accountability of our government lies clearly not to Bangladeshi people first. Is it afraid of losing power as it has won every election riding on Indian support or anything else? We demand review of the protocol to make things straight.
