India intends to use the Chattogram and Mongla ports on a permanent basis as soon as feasible, with the applicable tariffs, including escort expenses, remaining intact from the trial period for transhipment of goods. However, Bangladesh intends to permanently open the two ports to India after more trial runs and boosting the escort charge based on the results of the trials. In light of this, the two nations have agreed to conduct four trial runs beginning in December on the Mongla-Tamabil and Chattogram-Tamabil routes, as well as between Sheola and Bibirbazar in India and Mongla and Chattogram ports in Bangladesh.
India did not, however, agree to Bangladesh’s proposal to increase various charges and fees, including escort charges, according to the minutes of a meeting of the Bangladesh-India Joint Working Group of Customs (JGC) held in Dhaka on 22-23 March this year.
