Bangladesh may sign protocols with India, Nepal and Bhutan to provide the countries with transit benefits through its two to three road routes, commerce ministry sources have said.
A government assigned committee has earlier identified 17 transit routes -- seven by road, seven by rail and three by waterway.
India, on the other hand, proposed in April for 15 routes, all linked to Chittagong and Mongla ports.
But the committee in a report said, all of the routes are not fit for the facilities yet. For now, it suggested allowing transit at a limited scale.
Officials at the ministries of foreign affairs and commerce said, a framework of transit agreement may be signed alongside two to three protocols during the Indian prime minister's Dhaka visit in September.
It is also possible that only the framework will be signed during Manmohan's tour and the protocols towards the year-end, they said.
The committee, led by Tariff Commission Chairman Mujibur Rahman, in the report recommended signing of the framework before introducing the facilities.
They also suggested inking of different protocols for different routes under the framework.
Formed in November last year, the committee submitted the report to the government in April but made no recommendation on the fees to be charged for transit.
It will determine fees within next two weeks and make recommendations to the government accordingly, a Tariff Commission official said.
"I assume the agreements to be signed will be only on certain routes," Finance Minister AMA Muhith told journalists at a views exchange meeting at the Economic Reporters' Forum (ERF).
Muhith said they will sit in August and finalise the routes for which deals will be signed.
The finance minister also said it will take time to open all the routes.
Muhith said the committee on transit submitted a primary report to the Prime Minister's economic affairs adviser and he was yet to get its copy. So, he is not in a position to say anything specific at this moment.
An official of the Tariff Commission said the framework of the agreement will contain, among other things, outlines of the routes and how those would be made operational. Besides, issues related to transit with Nepal and Bhutan will also be there.
The protocols will mention the amount of fees and other detailed modalities.
The official said, the committee will recommend separate fees for routes on rail, road and waterway. They will be charged per kilometre per tonne.
The government will finalise fees through negotiation with India following the committee recommendations.
Monday, July 25, 2011 04:48 AM GMT+06:00 (122 weeks ago)
What is necessary now to publish the transit fees to be charged to India, Nepal and Bhutan. Showing the map of transit points means nothing in term of economic gains rather it may create suspicion in peoples' mind. Already the Adviser to PM has expressed shame in asking India to pay creating confusion. The AL govt. must be very transparent on this issue before the opposition gets encouraged to raise the question of sovereignty.
Monday, July 25, 2011 07:42 AM GMT+06:00 (122 weeks ago)
Transit must not be given in isolation. Water sharing on the basis of equity of all international rivers, exchange of all enclaves in accordance with Mujib-Indira treaty, resolution of all borders [ land and maritime ] disputes, removal of all tariff and non tariff barriers and other issues must be resolved simultaneously.
Monday, July 25, 2011 08:05 AM GMT+06:00 (122 weeks ago)
We need a national consensus; AL does not have mandate to do this alone, the whole nation must be involved. This is country we are leaving behind for our children. We do not wish to see them living their life in regional conflict. This transit will not go down well with this nation. It is a warning.
Monday, July 25, 2011 09:57 AM GMT+06:00 (122 weeks ago)
The likely opening of routes for transit of goods from and to Nepal, Bhutan and India through Bangladesh will be a step in the right direction. Besides generating employment for Bangladeshi people of the areas. It will result in greater connectivity, save fuel and reduce costs. It will be a forerunner of more connectivity activities between countries of the Region and all members of SAARC.
Monday, July 25, 2011 10:07 AM GMT+06:00 (122 weeks ago)
If the routes shown in the map are true who will guard the Indian vehicles flying over Bangladesh? Who is going to ensure safety, security and sovereignty of our beloved mother land? How can we ignore this?
Monday, July 25, 2011 10:09 AM GMT+06:00 (122 weeks ago)
Why rail and water transit is not enough? Why we also need to give land transit? Let India give us transit to in all modes to go to Pakistan.
Monday, July 25, 2011 10:10 AM GMT+06:00 (122 weeks ago)
It will be better for BD to be a province of India rather than giving transit to India in these manners.
Monday, July 25, 2011 10:19 AM GMT+06:00 (122 weeks ago)
Transit through road link will be very harmful for Bangladesh. Transit through rail would be good for both Bangladesh and India. But there is no good railway connectivity at Akhaura and Benapole which are the most important Land Customs Station for Bangladesh. Bangladesh govt. should ask India as well as development partner particularly ADB to construct railway not only border area but also other area in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has a all rights to demand for these for win win situation.
Monday, July 25, 2011 01:03 PM GMT+06:00 (122 weeks ago)
The major highways are already having excessive traffic load. How many trucks will move daily in which roads is necessary to know. It might be serious environmental threat to huge transport movement through these routes since we have 160 million population.
Why we are giving Mongla and Ashuganj River route. This route we are using for industrial supply chain. We doubt transit might affect transport system and thereby affect foreign direct investment. Thus it might affect GDP growth and plunge the country towards poverty.
Monday, July 25, 2011 03:22 AM GMT+06:00 (122 weeks ago)
I am having nightmares about huge Dhaka-like traffic jams on highways which is partially true now as it takes more than double the time it took to travel to Chittagong.
Please widen the highways 3 times before offering the facility to the neighbours. I was wondering why we could not get transit to Bhutan and to China?
Monday, July 25, 2011 11:22 PM GMT+06:00 (122 weeks ago)
What about CHINA?
Wednesday, July 27, 2011 12:08 AM GMT+06:00 (122 weeks ago)
1. One specific transit route for one state.
2. This agreement should come forward and be executed by SAARC, not with few individual country.
3. Transit to all other SAARC Member states must be ensured before any agreement.
Monday, July 25, 2011 01:12 PM GMT+06:00 (122 weeks ago)
It shows that the AL government has not thought about the impact of transit. As a technocrat and planner, I feel that 17 route transit will just de-stabilize economic activity of Bangladesh. The only economic activity will be transit. There will be serious traffic congestion in the future due to our growing population.
AL has no right to go ahead with such massive development plan for India through transit.
Monday, July 25, 2011 11:04 PM GMT+06:00 (122 weeks ago)
The population of eastern India is 60 million and this will be served by transit route and India will also tap its mineral resources and transport it through Bangladesh. This is huge economic activity through Bangladesh for boosting India's economy. What will Bangladesh get in return?
Do we have any assessment of economic development of India through transit and its impact on Bangladesh economy?