প্রকাশ: 08/09/2022
India has offered Bangladesh free transit facilities through
specified land customs stations, airports, and seaports for its exports to
third countries.
In this regard, the Indian side invited Bangladesh business
community for using its port infrastructure for transshipment to third
countries.
The Indian side informed it during delegation level
bilateral talks visiting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian
counterpart Narendra Modi held at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Tuesday.
India has also been providing free transit to Bangladesh for
exporting its products to Nepal and Bhutan, according to the joint statement
issued on Wednesday.
The Bangladesh side requested rail connectivity with Bhutan
through the newly inaugurated Chilahati – Haldibari route.
The Indian side agreed to consider the request, based on its
viability and feasibility.
To make this and other cross border rail links viable, the
Indian side requested the Bangladesh side to remove port restrictions, inter
alia at the Chilahati – Haldibari crossing.
The two leaders agreed to expedite efforts to improve
bilateral and sub-regional connectivity through early operationalisation of the
BBIN motor vehicle agreement.
The Indian side requested the Bangladesh side for
cooperation for initiating new sub-regional connectivity projects including a
highway from Hili in West Bengal to Mahendraganj in Meghalaya through
Bangladesh and, in this regard, proposed preparation of a detailed project
report.
In the same spirit, Bangladesh reiterated its eagerness to
partner in the ongoing initiative of the India – Myanmar - Thailand trilateral
highway project.
The two leaders underscored the importance of implementing
bilateral and sub-regional rail, road, and other connectivity initiatives.
Both sides welcomed the ongoing bilateral initiatives, such
as, conversion to dual-gauge of Tongi-Akhaura line, supply of railway rolling
stock, capacity building for the personnel of Bangladesh Railway, sharing of IT
solutions for improved services of Bangladesh Railway etc.
Both sides also welcomed the new initiatives, namely,
Kaunia-Lalmonirhat-Mogalghat-New Gitaldaha link, establishing a link between
Hili and Birampur, upgradation of track and signaling systems and railway
stations along the Benapole-Jashore line, link restoration between Burimari and
Changrabandha, construction of a container depot at Sirajganj.
And both sides agreed to explore funding of these projects
through a range of financial instruments under the bilateral development
cooperation.
The Bangladesh side welcomed the gesture of India for
providing 20 broad-gauge diesel locomotives on grant.
The two leaders welcomed the successful completion of trial
runs under the agreement on the use of the Chattogram and Mongla Ports (ACMP)
and looked forward to its full operationalisation at the earliest.
The Indian side reiterated its request to work towards the
expansion of the bilateral Coastal Shipping Agreement of 2015 to include
third-country EXIM cargo.
The two sides agreed to expeditiously explore direct
shipping links between the two countries.
They also agreed to implement the decision to start riverine
services under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) routes 5
& 6 (Dhulian to Rajshahi -extension to Aricha) and 9 & 10 (Daudkandi to
Sonamura).
The Indian side requested Bangladesh to complete remaining
infrastructure, immigration, and customs facilities for the operationalisation
of the Maitri Bridge over River Feni, connecting Tripura with Bangladesh, at an
early date.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is making an official visit to
India from September 5-8 at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra
Modi.
During the visit, she called on President of India Droupadi
Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Minister of
Development of North Eastern Region G. Kishan Reddy called on her.
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