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Dhaka-Delhi inland water transit, trade protocol renewed

Minister says gout to build deep-sea port

Staff Correspondent
Bangladesh and India renewed the protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade to enhance trade between the two countries through waterways.
The two-year protocol was signed yesterday after a two-day negotiation between delegations of the countries. The present protocol was supposed to be over on March 31 and it is under the bilateral trade agreement of the two countries.
Though the delegations discussed several issues, no change was made in the renewed protocol. This protocol was signed in 1972 and renewed in every two years.
After the formal signing of the renewal agreement, both parties talked to the media and said that no major issues were kept unsettled.
Meanwhile, Shipping Minister Dr Afsarul Amin yesterday said the government is determined to move ahead with the deep-sea port project at Sonadia in southern Chittagong, one of the pre-election pledges of the present government.
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"It has been mentioned in the election manifesto of Awami League and the government will implement the project (deep seaport) if it does not face any hindrance in its implementation,” he told reporters after holding a meeting with the Indian delegation, reports UNB.
The minister said they would soon sit together to discuss further the issue and a presentation ceremony will take place on April 12.
"The trade between Bangladesh and India will enhance following the treaty," said Secretary in-charge of the Shipping Ministry Md Masud Elahi who led the Bangladesh delegation and signed the protocol for Bangladesh.
Shri Vijay Chhibber, additional secretary to Indian minis -tr^ of Shipping. Roads, Tran^pbrt arid’ Highways, led a1 24-member Indian delegation. He termed the protocol a "winwin situation for both countries" and said Bangladesh can import goods at much cheaper rate from India.
Before inking the protocol, the two delegations agreed to continue the discussion of technical committees fromApril.
Besides the existing river ports, Dhaka and Narayanganj ports will be used under this protocol from next year.
The technical committee will discuss several issues, including the navigability of Bangladesh rivers like Padma, Meghna and Teesta where movement of vessels is disrupted due to poor navigability.
Under this protocol, Bangladesh receives levy worth Tk 2 crore annually from India for allowing Indian goods cargoes to use Bangladeshi waterways.
Entering through Godagari, Rajshahi, the Indian cargoes go to Karimganj in Assam using a shortcutway.
Pakistan! slip of tongue?
Instead of saying the trade protocol was signed between Bangladesh and India, acting Shipping Secretary Md Masud Elahi while delivering speech after signing the protocol said twice that the trade protocol was signed between India and Pakistan.