UNB, Dhaka :
In a major shift from the 2011 negotiations, Bangladesh and India, the two countries this time have agreed on
imposing ‘fees, charges and transportation costs’ in terms of using transit facilities that Bangladesh sees as gain, said a senior government official.
“This is the biggest gain for us,” the official said wishing not to be named ruling out the public notion that all are given to India free of cost.
He said, both the governments would work out the fees and charges considering ‘internationally agreed’ fees following international convention and practices. “It may be 5 paisa more or less than that standard. So, nothing is given free.”
Bangladesh and India signed some 22 documents, mostly on connectivity front, with India during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s June 6-7 visit here. The deals include Bilateral Trade Agreement (Renewal), Agreement on Coastal Shipping between Bangladesh and India, Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (Renewal) and an MoU on use of Chittagong and Mongla Port.
“In each deal related to shipping, trade and ports use, there is not only provision of fees, we say there is fee+ (plus), which is a major departure from 2011 when it was a big debate,” the official said.
Contacted, economist and chairperson of the Unnyan Onneshan Prof Rashed Al Mahmud
Titumir referred article V of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT 1947, WTO) titled ‘Freedom of Transit’ that mentioned ‘reasonable’ fees.
All charges and regulations imposed by contracting parties on traffic in transit to or from the territories of other contracting parties shall be reasonable, having regard to the conditions of the traffic, the document reads.
With respect to all charges, regulations and formalities in connection with transit, each contracting party shall accord to traffic in transit to or from the territory of any other contracting party treatment no less favourable than the treatment accorded to traffic in transit to or from any third country, it also reads.
A foreign ministry official on the renewed trade agreement said the two governments agreed to make mutually beneficial arrangements for the use of their waterways, roadways and railways, for commerce between the two countries and for the passengers’ goods between the two places in one country and to the third country through the territory of the other under the current mutual agreement.
It means, he said, now movement can take place from Bangladesh to Nepal and Bhutan through Indian territories, which was only two-way – in 2011.
The official also said the movement of goods within Bangladesh will be subject to relevant rules and laws of Bangladesh and the movement of goods will be subject to charges relating to transportation.
In a major shift from the 2011 negotiations, Bangladesh and India, the two countries this time have agreed on
imposing ‘fees, charges and transportation costs’ in terms of using transit facilities that Bangladesh sees as gain, said a senior government official.
“This is the biggest gain for us,” the official said wishing not to be named ruling out the public notion that all are given to India free of cost.
He said, both the governments would work out the fees and charges considering ‘internationally agreed’ fees following international convention and practices. “It may be 5 paisa more or less than that standard. So, nothing is given free.”
Bangladesh and India signed some 22 documents, mostly on connectivity front, with India during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s June 6-7 visit here. The deals include Bilateral Trade Agreement (Renewal), Agreement on Coastal Shipping between Bangladesh and India, Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (Renewal) and an MoU on use of Chittagong and Mongla Port.
“In each deal related to shipping, trade and ports use, there is not only provision of fees, we say there is fee+ (plus), which is a major departure from 2011 when it was a big debate,” the official said.
Contacted, economist and chairperson of the Unnyan Onneshan Prof Rashed Al Mahmud
Titumir referred article V of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT 1947, WTO) titled ‘Freedom of Transit’ that mentioned ‘reasonable’ fees.
All charges and regulations imposed by contracting parties on traffic in transit to or from the territories of other contracting parties shall be reasonable, having regard to the conditions of the traffic, the document reads.
With respect to all charges, regulations and formalities in connection with transit, each contracting party shall accord to traffic in transit to or from the territory of any other contracting party treatment no less favourable than the treatment accorded to traffic in transit to or from any third country, it also reads.
A foreign ministry official on the renewed trade agreement said the two governments agreed to make mutually beneficial arrangements for the use of their waterways, roadways and railways, for commerce between the two countries and for the passengers’ goods between the two places in one country and to the third country through the territory of the other under the current mutual agreement.
It means, he said, now movement can take place from Bangladesh to Nepal and Bhutan through Indian territories, which was only two-way – in 2011.
The official also said the movement of goods within Bangladesh will be subject to relevant rules and laws of Bangladesh and the movement of goods will be subject to charges relating to transportation.
