NO free goods should exist in an economy except what is provided by nature, but the government is set to provide another transshipment of 25,000 tonnes food grains to the northeastern states of India through Bangladesh land without duty. A report of an English daily on Wednesday said, India would be allowed to transship food grains using Ashuganj river port and Akhaura land port to Tripura on humanitarian grounds. The government already decided to waive customs duty on the transshipment in an inter-ministerial meeting. This is not the first time that the incumbent government has shown excuses due to human grounds. India earlier in August-November last year transported 10,000 tonnes of food grains via Bangladeshi ports in two consignments without paying duties or port charges under the cover of a trial phase run.
In terms of Bangladesh-India Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade signed in 2012, India sought transit of 35,000 tonnes of food grains on humanitarian grounds through Bangladesh for emergency supply to the Indian state of Tripura. As per the protocol, ships carrying rice reached the Ashuganj river port in Bangladesh from Kolkata and the grains were unloaded in Agartala by Bangladeshi trucks through Akhaura in November’ 2014 without any duties. India now has reportedly planned to ship 35,000 tonnes of food grains annually to its northeastern states through Bangladesh after the trial transshipment completed last year.
However, it seems that what India wants is likely to get free transit through using Bangladesh’s lands, highways, roads, ports and rivers without paying any tax or duties. This is not so unusual on the Indian part, as a country must have the policy of serving its own interests. This India has. But the question arises on what our policy makers think about. It is a self-diminishing attempt ignoring the interest of the country, of the nation and also of the business giving India free transit only to buy loyalty and guarantee of power. Bangladesh was unable to secure transit to Nepal and Bhutan through Indian territory despite discussing the matter several time. Besides, local exporters feared that transshipment to India would have adverse impacts on exports to Tripura and in that zone. Experts questioned who would bear the cost of damages as a result of access to our roads by the heavy lorries of India. They have also raised the question of meeting the usual maintenance (wear and tear) costs caused due to such free transit.
India, as our very friendly neighbour can get transit, but not by hurting our benefit. It should be reciprocal and beneficial to both sides. Only then such transit may be considered. Bangladesh should be allowed to trade with Indian states on the same grounds of humanity that India claims for transit. Above all, Bangladesh must think of its security as Indian militants or revolutionaries may get access to our roads in the name of transshipment facilities. Transit is an economic interest, not an affair of charity.
