Mashiur against fees for transit to India

Dhaka wants to maximise the capacities of Mongla port through offering transit facilities to its neighbouring countries - India, Nepal and Bhutan, Economic Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Mashiur Rahman said Thursday. He said Chittagong port alone can not handle the heavy pressure of cargoes under a regime of transit for neighbouring countries. "India wants to use Chittagong port. But we proposed them to use Mongla port to avert congestion at Chittagong port caused by heavy pressure of uploading and unloading cargoes of other countries," Mr Mashiur said during the concluding session of a three-day dialogue on Cooperative Development, Peace and Security in South and Central Asia: Strengthening India-Bangladesh Relations. About fees for providing transshipment facilities, the adviser said Bangladesh should not collect any fee for giving transit to India or transshipment facility. "If we are a uncivilised country or our leaders are illiterate, then we can ask for the fees but that is not the case," he told the newsmen after emerging from the dialogue. "According to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) principles, transit facility should not be used for augmenting revenue rather to pass on the benefit to the customers," he said. Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad (BUP) in association with Bangladesh Network Environmental Governance (BENG) jointly organised the event at Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) where academics, scholars and bureaucrats from both the countries participated. He said the proposal, if accepted, will also ensure investments for developing infrastructures at the country's second biggest seaport. By using the port Nepal and Bhutan can easily conduct their export and import activities to and from various destinations. The adviser sought Indian cooperation to provide transit facilities to import hydroelectricity from Bhutan and Nepal as he believes the low-cost power will help accelerate the overall development in the region. The cooperation can ensure the low-cost power availability in the region which will play a key role in the development of agriculture and industrialisation by ensuring more trade and investments. The adviser said the government is removing the problems related to trade and transit but cooperation in energy and water sectors is yet to be explored. "There is a huge potential of producing hydroelectricity in northeastern states of India, Nepal and Bhutan and through regional cooperation Bangladesh can be a beneficiary to it," he added. He further said India needs the help Bangladesh to get the environment-friendly and cheap electricity and Bangladesh should cooperate in this connection. The participants laid emphasis on greater mutual cooperation between the two next-door neighbours for combating all the problems, including poverty and energy and water sharing for economic development. PKSF chairman Dr Q K Ahmad said six areas of cooperation are identified to make Dhaka-Delhi relationship more vibrant and dynamic. "Bangladesh can make equity investment in Bhutan and Nepal to get hydroelectricity." Former foreign secretary of India Salman Haider said there are friendship among many Bangladeshis and Indians but value addition to the friendship is important. "We are enlightened with political leadership and genuinely looking for collective approach as that is the demand of time," he observed. Indian deputy high commissioner Sanjay Bhattacharia, lawmaker Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Ambassador CM Shafi Sami among others, also spoke, on the occasion.