First ODC transshipment leaves BD border

FE Team | Published: March 30, 2011 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

77The first four consignments of over-dimensional cargoes (ODCs) for the 726 megawatt Palatana power project have crossed the Bangladesh border, reports bdnews24.com. "On completion of all the formalities, including customs, the trailers crossed the border on Tuesday noon," Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, finance manager of Gulf Orient, told the news agency. Gulf Orient is responsible for shipment of 96 consignments for the power plant in Bangladesh. The first trailers started off from Ashuganj for the Akhaura border, a distance of 45 kilometres, at 12:30 am last Monday. "The four trailers are now unloading at the no man's land and those will be back tonight (Tuesday night) to Ashuganj," he said. According to the agreement, trailers can only move between 12 o'clock at midnight to six o'clock in the morning. "The next four consignments will leave Ashuganj for the Akhaura border on Thursday midnight," he added. India is making the trans-shipment of ODC cargoes under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (IWTT) signed in 1972. Trans-shipment facility means using dual modes of transport like river and road and the neigbouring country, India, never availed itself of that. The consignments come from Kolkata to Ashuganj port through river route and from the port it will be carried by trailers to Akhaura. Under the supervision of the Roads and Highway Department, Gulf Orient made 16 diversions, three parking bays and constructed 15 kilometres of new roads. Brahmanbaria district administration and customs will oversee the entire operation. The ODC trans-shipment process started during the visit of prime minister Sheikh Hasina to India in January last year. In the joint communiqué issued at the end of the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India, it was stipulated by the two governments of India and Bangladesh that there would ODC transshipment for Palatana power plant. Bangladesh in May last year brought an addendum to the IWTT protocol and declared Ashuganj as the second trans-shipment point, alongwith the fifth port of call. For the ODC trans-shipment, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the governments of India and Bangladesh in November last year. The first trans-shipment point was Sherpur in Sylhet which was declared in 1972 but India never availed itself of the facility. Since the 80s, India wanted Bangladesh to declare Ashuganj as the second trans-shipment point on the river route between Ashuganj and Sherpur. Distance between Sherpur and the closest Indian border is over 150 kilometres, but it is less than 50 kilometres through Ashuganj-Akhaura border with improved road network. India still uses transit or single mode transport facility through river route to carry its goods to, and from, Kolkata and its seven sisters' states.