Four South Asian countries will meet in Dhaka in September next to finalise draft protocols on motor vehicles agreement (MVA) signed in June by Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN), officials said.
The two-day joint secretary-level meeting beginning on September 08 is expected to negotiate the issues on possible routes, duties or fees to be imposed for passenger and goods vehicle movement in the four member-countries, they said.
The officials said the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which played a significant role in the signing of the MVA is working on drafting of the protocol.
"The protocol will cover the whole gamut of passenger and goods-carrying vehicles both bilaterally and trilaterally," said an official.
He said as India has already regional connectivity with other three member countries, the protocols are likely to facilitate trilateral issues without any hindrance.
The BBIN transport ministers signed the MVA on June 15 in Thimpu of Bhutan setting a six-month working plan to make the agreement effective.
The BBIN MVA was formulated against the backdrop of the ADB-supported SASEC (Sub-regional Economic Cooperation) Trade Facilitation Strategic Framework 2014-2018, endorsed in 2013.
Sources said the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges has also drafted a protocol from the national context which will also be discussed in the meeting.
"As the MVA has been hastened with Bangladesh's efforts, we have done a draft protocol considering the country context," said an official preferring not to be named.
Ministry sources said a Land Transport Facilitation Committee (LTFC), which was formed soon after the joint statement signed by the four ministers in Bhutan, held the first meeting with all the stakeholders on June 30.
The 20-member committee is headed by Road Transport and High Division secretary. Members include Cabinet Division, Ministries of finance, commerce, foreign affairs, shipping, National Board of Revenue, Customs and Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation.
Sources said the sub-committee formed under the LTFC has worked to draft the country protocol.
The BBIN MVA is almost similar to the SAARC MVA, drafted for signing during last SAARC summit in Nepal in November which, however, could not be signed due to one member-country's reservation.
According to the six-month work plan, chalked out in the joint statement, member-countries are likely to complete preparations of bilateral agreements/ protocols for implementation of the MVA, by July 2015.
The negotiation and approval for the bilateral agreements/protocols will be completed by September next while installation of prerequisites for implementing the approved agreements by December this year.
Survey on several other routes will also be conducted by October next.
These are Thimphu-Phuentsholing-Jaigaon-Burimari-Mongla/Chittagong, Kathmandu-Kakarvita/Phulbari-Banglabandha-Mongla/Chittagong, Samdrup Jonhkar (Bhutan)-Guwahari-Shilong-Tamabil-Sylhet-Chittagong, Silchar-Sutarkandi-Paturia Ferryghat-Benapole/Petrapole-Kolkata, Silchar-Saturkandi-Chittagong Port and Agartala-Akhaura-Chittagong Port.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
