Indo-Bangla trade fails to benefit from the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) due to poor infrastructure, lack of investments and awareness, a senior official said on Wednesday.
"There is a lack of infrastructural development in the riverine ports and many places are not connected with good road and railway transportation system," said Director General of the state-run Department of Shipping Syed Ariful Islam.
His comments came at a seminar on the Bangladesh Council on India-Bangladesh Protocol on Inland Water Trade and Transit (PIWTT) organised by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT).
Ariful Islam said it takes longer time to load and unload the vessels due to the poor connectivity in the ports.
He said the navigability of the waterways is poor because it is not maintained regularly and most of the routes are seasonal.
"There is no required investment in developing facilities at the ports as well as in hinterland facilities," he said.
If modernised and the private sector makes necessary investment, the waterways between two countries have enormous potentials.
He said public-private partnership in the ports will open up new opportunities.
Mr Islam said the business community is not aware about these routes, for which these remain untapped.
"Bangladeshi businesses can reach the Northeastern states (India) with goods before mainland India by using these routes. They should harness the potentials," he said.
He said due to the non-availability of customs or restrictions on the number of items at different landing stations it takes longer time than normal to complete custom formalities.
"Customs and the relevant authorities should look into it," he said.
The Shipping boss said a joint working group (JWG) could be set up to study the feasibility of increasing the transportation of commercial goods under protocol.
CILT Bangladesh Council Secretary General Captain Gias Uddin Ahmed Khan (Retd.) also spoke at the seminar.
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