Body formed to fix transshipment fee

---

FE Report
The government has formed a committee to fix transshipment fee after considering all the relevant factors associated with it, said Foreign Minister Dipu Moni Monday.
Export-import situation of the two countries, impact of Bangladesh export, marginal savings of India and marginal costs of Bangladesh and other factors will be considered to fix the fee, she said at a press conference.
The government in June slapped transit and transshipment fees to the tune of Tk 10,000 per container and Tk 1,000 per tonne for bulk import but the SRO was withdrawn a few days back.
"The SRO was withdrawn as it was not negotiated with Indians and we will fix a rate which will be a win-win situation for all of us," Dr Dipu said.
The foreign minister said Tripura has shown interest in importing goods from Bangladesh due to convenient distance.
Shipments from mainland India to Tripura cover 1,500 kilometres due to geographical reason but if traders import goods from Bangladesh, the distance will be much less, she said.
"Bangladesh and Tripura don't trade much but the prospect is huge," she said adding, "Quality products from Bangladesh can have good potential."
Bangladesh wants to develop deep sea port as regional hub and wants to ensure maximum number of port users to make it viable, Dr Dipu said.
"China has expertise in developing deep sea port but at the same time we want more participation from our neighbours India, Nepal and Bhutan for developing the port," she said.
About the Palatana power plant in Agartala, she said the Tripura state government has agreed to sell 100 megawatt of electricity from the plant.
"But thy will need the approval from the central government as according to the Indian constitution, no state government can sign any agreement without the permission from the central government," she explained.
Equipment for the Palatana power plant will be transshipped through Bangladesh soon, she said.
Bangladesh is developing grid connection at Bheramara to import power from Kolkata and it is better to have another grid on Tripura border to have more cooperation in the future, Dr Dipu said.
"It is expected that Chittagong-Agartola direct air connection will begin from next month to strengthen cooperation," she said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will visit Japan this month and it is expected that she will strike a deal with the Tokyo government for funding of Padma Bridge.
"Japan helped us in developing Bangabandhu Bridge and this time we sought their help to build Padma Bridge," she said.