A full-fledged river transit facility through the Ashuganj port is unlikely to be given to India in the 'near future' due to the absence of necessary infrastructure, a senior government official said.
"We are not sure when the regular transit could be started. However, until the necessary infrastructure is developed, the trial run will continue to take place," the official of ministry of shipping told the FE.
The ministry last week organised an inter-ministerial meeting to get an update relating to the preparation for starting regular river transit using the Ashuganj port.
The meeting was told that various problems exist at the Ashuganj port which are barriers to starting regular transit. The problems include the lack of required infrastructure, non-finalisation of transit fee, absence of an office for customs department, no shed for transit goods and lack of necessary arrangement for their security.
Various government departments, involved in the transit activities, informed the meeting of the problems and sought remedies before taking any move to start the regular transit.
Shipping Secretary Abdul Mannan Howlader presided over the meeting which instructed the participants to inform the ministry about the problems in writing within next two weeks. After examining the submissions another inter-ministerial meeting will be convened to resolve the problems.
A core committee has recently submitted a report recommending transit fees ranging from US$ 252 to $ 54,368 for each consignment of cargo using Bangladesh road, river and train routes.
The fees will vary from 2 cents to 11 cents per tonne and per km depending on the route to be used.
Sources said a meeting at the prime minister's office (PMO) recently decided that Bangladesh will set four new conditions before starting regular transit and transshipment. To this effect step has been taken to amend the existing river protocol.
They also said while plying through Bangladeshi territory, Indian ships will be allowed to take service at Sheikhbaria, Mongla, Barisal, Chandpur, Narayanganj, Sirajganj and Chilmari points. The Indian sailors will be allowed to take necessaries like fuel oil, foods and medication from these places.
Officials said that the existing river protocol with India will be renewed next March. Before that necessary amendment may be carried out centring the transit and transshipment.
The Ashuganj port is being used as a transshipment point under the existing protocol which was signed based on the Bangladesh-India trade agreement of 1972.
In April this year India transported over dimensional consignments (ODCs) through the Ashuganj river port to establish a power plant in Tripura state. Later, several trial runs of transshipment of consignments were carried out through the river port.
Source: thedailystar.net
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