Four-nation BBIN car rally deferred

The cross-border car run through Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) to launch sub-regional connectivity has been deferred by a month from its October schedule.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader made the disclosure Monday while briefing about a meeting on the proposed protocol to execute the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement (MVA). The meeting was held in Dhaka on September 08-09.
The minister said as road conditions of all BBIN member-countries deteriorated following heavy rain, the BBIN motor rally will now be held between November 14 and December 01 with the representatives of the four nations.
Trial run for passenger transportation will take place in October on the proposed route.
A joint statement signed by the BBIN transport ministers on June 15 in Bhutan had announced the schedule of motor rally of the BBIN in October under a six-month work plan.
According to the work plan, negotiations and approval for bilateral/trilateral/ quadrilateral protocols for implementing the BBIN MVA were also supposed to be completed within September.
The RTB minister said draft protocol for movement of passenger and personal vehicles under BBIN MVA was prepared during the two-day meeting but its internal procedure will be completed by October.
Before that each of the member-countries will give their opinion or suggestion on the draft protocol for movement of vehicles by September 23, he added.
"BBIN countries will take measures to sign protocol for movement of passenger and personal vehicles under BBIN MVA by December or before," the minister also said.
He, however, said pilot/trial run of cross-border cargo will be conducted preliminarily on a small scale on cargo- transportation routes during October-November period to finalise the draft cargo protocol speedily in Shiliguri of West Bengal in December.
Answering to a question about fixation of transit fees and easing visa procedures, the minister said the issues will be raised during the home secretary-level meeting between Bangladesh and India to be held in Dhaka on October 06-08.
Electronic tracking system and digitisation of route permits have been under consideration.
The minister said the BBIN car rally will start from Bhubeneshwar of Orissa State of India and end in Kolkata of West Bengal crossing over Nepal, Bhutan, Assam and Tripura of India.
The rally will enter Bangladesh through Akhaura on November 28 and leave through Benapole for Kolkata on November 30, he added.
Road Transport and Highways Division secretary MAN Siddique and other senior officials of the division were present at the press briefing.
smunima@yahoo.com