Prospect of India-Bangladesh Maritime Connectivity
News Desk
The India-Bangladesh maritime connectivity has been given a major boost with the successful trial of the transhipment of goods to India’s north-eastern States via the Chittagong port. In July 2020, MV Shejyoti, a ship with cargo for Bangladeshi businesses and also four containers bound for Indian States of Tripura and Assam, set sail from the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port at Haldia in West Bengal, India, for Chittagong. The journey was historic since this was the first trial of the transhipment facility to India’s landlocked north-eastern region via the Chittagong port.
This transhipment facility is an outcome of the bilateral agreement signed in 2018 to allow the use of Chittagong and Mongla ports for the purpose. Additionally, a standard operating procedure was signed during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in October 2019. The SOP allows transhipment of goods from Chittagong and Mongla on four road, rail, and water routes to Agartala (Tripura) via Akhaura; Dawki (Meghalaya) via Tamabil; Sutarkandi (Assam) via Sheila; and Srimantpur (Tripura) via Bibirbazar. During the trial, the cargo destined for the north-east India was transported from Chittagong to Agartala by road.
The process of this connectivity started much before. In 1972 India-Bangladesh already had an Inland Water Trade and Transit treaty and a protocol. As per the Protocol, inland vessels of one country can transit through the specified routes of the other country.
Time and again to this protocol, new routes and new ports of call are being added. In 2010, India and Bangladesh signed transit agreement to use Chattogram & mongla. In 2015, Under the Coastal shipping agreement, MoU for the above was formalized. In 2018, a bilateral agreement was signed to allow the use of Chittagong and Mongla ports for the purpose, the current transshipment is an outcome of this. In 2019, standard operating procedures were finalized during PM Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India. The SOP allows transshipment of goods from Chittagong and Mongla on four road, rail, and water routes to Agartala (Tripura) via Akhaura – Dawki (Meghalaya) via Tamabil – Sutarkandi (Assam) via Sheila – Srimantpur (Tripura) via Bibirbazar.
In May 2020, the two countries have signed an addendum to the protocol, adding 2 new routes and 5 new port of calls on each side. Currently, Inland water protocol has a total of 10 routes and 11 port of calls on each side.
The beginning of this transhipment facility is a telling example of the cooperative attitude that guides the bilateral relationship. The move corresponds the two nations’ vision to strengthen the bilateral connectivity and develop a mutually-beneficial partnership for the shared good of the people living across the border. At the flag-off ceremony, India’s Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya observed that the transit route will open new opportunities for both countries. During a webinar on India-Bangladesh relations, Bangladeshi State Minister of Shipping Khalid Mahmud also opined that the trial run will open a new horizon for the two countries.
Is Bangladesh Benefitted?
Experts feel that this facility will contribute to enhancing business services and revenue generation in Bangladesh. It is expected to help Bangladesh in job-creation and investment in the logistical sector since Bangladeshi vessels and trucks will be utilized to move the Indian cargo. Indian cargo also has to pay requisite taxes to use the facility in Bangladesh. The facility is considered to be the first step in fulfilling the present Awami League government’s desire to transform Bangladesh into a connectivity hub.
India’s Benefit
Bangladesh is likely to get monetary benefit but India is going to get much more. Access to Chittagong and Mongla ports has been a remarkable step. It is going to enhance the connectivity to Northeast Region which has been India’s Achilles heel. It will also help India to achieve its goals of Act East policy.
The India-Bangladesh connectivity is not only aimed at improving the movement of goods and people bilaterally but also has a vision for deepening sub-regional cooperation, primarily Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) quadrilateral cooperation. The recently added port at Jogikhopa is expected to facilitate inland water connectivity to Bhutan.
In this complex sub-regional geo-politics, India and Bangladesh provide a unique model of good-neighbourly relationship, anchored in the vision of peaceful co-existence and sharing a prosperous neighbourhood by growing together hand-in-hand.
The beginning of this transshipment facility is a telling example of cooperative attitude between nations and two nations’ vision to strengthen the bilateral connectivity and develop a mutually-beneficial partnership. In this complex sub-regional geo-politics, India and Bangladesh provide a unique model of good-neighbourly relationship.