Transhipment modality

While giving transhipment rights to India, Bangladesh should unilaterally fix tariff for river, rail and land transport across the country.  However, the rail transport may be segregated, as it involves metre to broad gauge transhipments.

The land and waterways need Indian water transport vessels and trucks, all to be manned by Indian crew. Only Bangladesh needs border crossing posts and some fast police patrol boats to oversee the job so that all vessels pay freight and other tariff charges.

The waterway and the land transport charges should be paid on entry into Bangladesh through border posts. Payment for the cargo, as well as the crew, on per head basis, should be included. Identified customs and crossing points should be manned by Bangladeshis at both entry and exit points.

S.A. Mansoor

Dhaka.

sam@dhakacom.com