India and Bangladesh signed several milestone agreements for enhancing inland and coastal waterways connectivity between the two countries for trade and cruise movements. Briefing media persons in New Delhi last week, Shipping Secretary Mr Gopal Krishna and his Bangladesh counterpart Mr Md Abdus Samad informed that the two countries have signed an agreement to use Chattogram and Mongla Ports in Bangladesh for movement of goods to and from India. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has also been signed for movement of passenger and cruise services. In addition, an addendum to ‘Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT)’ between India and Bangladesh has been signed for inclusion of Dhubri in India and Pangaon in Bangladesh as new ports of call. These agreements will facilitate easier movement of goods and passengers between the two countries, giving impetus to trade and tourism.
The two sides agreed to consider inclusion of Rupnarayan river (National Waterway 86) from Geonkhali to Kolaghat in the protocol route and to declare Kolaghat in West Bengal as a new port of call. Chilmari was agreed to as a port of call in Bangladesh. The new arrangement will facilitate movement of flyash, cement, construction materials etc. from India to Bangladesh through IWT on Rupnarayan river.
Further, both sides agreed to declare Badarpur on river Barak (NW 16) as an Extended Port of Call of Karimganj in Assam and Ghorasal of Ashuganj in Bangladesh on reciprocal basis. The Indian side proposed for extension of the protocol routes from Kolkata up to Silchar in Assam. Currently, 3.5 MMT of cargo is transported on protocol routes through inland waterways, which is expected to increase substantially after the declaration of additional ports of call and extension of protocol routes. The North Eastern states would get connected directly to the ports of Kolkata and Haldia in India and Mongla in Bangladesh through waterways, which would facilitate movement of exim cargo and would also reduce logistic costs.
In another important understanding reached between the two countries, the SOP for movement of passengers and cruise vessels on Inland Protocol route and coastal shipping routes have been finalised. These river cruise services are likely to commence between Kolkata – Dhaka – Guwahati – Jorhat and back.
It was also agreed that a Joint Technical Committee will explore the technical feasibility of operationalisation of Dhulian-Rajshahi protocol route up to Aricha and the reconstruction and opening up of Jangipur navigational lock on river Bhagirathi subject to the provisions of the Treaty between India and Bangladesh on Sharing of Ganga Waters at Farakka, 1996. This move has the potential to reduce the distance to Assam by more than 450 km on the protocol routes.
It was also decided that a Project Management Consultant for supervision and monitoring of dredging of Ashuganj-Zakiganj and Sirajganj-Daikhowa stretches of the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route in Bangladesh will be engaged with 80 per cent financial contribution from India and the rest by Bangladesh. A Joint Monitoring Committee has also been constituted for overall monitoring of the dredging works.
To bring about significant reduction in logistics cost and faster delivery of Bangladesh export cargo, the Indian side raised the point regarding permitting ‘third country’ exim trade under the coastal shipping agreement and PIWTT by allowing transhipment through ports on the east coast of India. Bangladesh agreed to hold stakeholder consultations and revert on the matter.
Both sides have also agreed on the development of Jogighopa as a hub/trans-shipment terminal for movement of cargo to Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Bhutan, and notifying Munsiganj river terminal by Bangladesh Customs for routing third party ex-im cargo through Kolkata Port.
Discussions were also held to make Nakugaon Land Port in Bangladesh and Dalu ICP (India) operational and to connect Gelephu (Bhutan) as a tripartite cross-border route.
Permission for the transportation of third country cargo on protocol routes and coastal shipping routes were also discussed. Inclusion of Dhamra Port, V. O. Chidambaranar Port (formerly Tuticorin Port) and Kamarajar Port under the Coastal Shipping Agreement was also deliberated upon. These will be further discussed at the Joint Shipping Committee meeting scheduled in December 2018.
Prior to the Secretary Shipping level talks held last week, the 19th edition of the Standing Committee meeting under ‘Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade’ (PIWTT) between the high level delegations of the two countries was held. The day-long meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministries of Shipping, External Affairs, Home, Finance, DONER and Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), and officials from Bangladesh belonging to the Ministry of Shipping, Board of Revenue, DG (Shipping) and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).
