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Proposed Transhipment Deal with India

Shippers see scope to earn millions

Sajjadur Rahman
Bangladesh has bright prospects for earning millions of dollars by operating its vessels to carry goods to and from neighbouring countries through the coast of the Bay of Bengal, businessmen say.
The initiative, if materialises, can also cut the cost of Bangladesh's imports from India by reducing the present transport bill by up to two-thirds.
Bangladesh on Tuesday proposed providing transhipment facilities to India through
Chittagong and Mongla seaports using the coastal belt. India has welcomed the offer, and the two countries agreed to explore the new idea for mutual benefit.
In January, Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed on a similar deal and adopted a draft Standard Operating Procedure to promote and facilitate trade and commerce between the two countries using the coastal belt.
“This is a big opportunity and Bangladesh should do the same
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with India," said Gazi Belayet Hossain, chairman of Coastal Ship Owners Association of Bangladesh (Coab).
According to Coab, Bangladesh has a competitive edge over its neighbours on ships and vessels. Many of the country's 2,000 cargo and ships remain unused.
The advantage Bangladesh can reap from this is also evident in carrying goods to and from India under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade. More than 90 percent of the 300 vessels that have been used for the purpose are Bangladeshi.
In fiscal year 2010-11, the country earned $26 million in freight charge by carrying goods to and from India under the protocol, Coab data show.
The amount can be manifold higher if vessels are allowed through the coastal belt of the Bay of Bengal
between Bangladesh and India, Coab leaders say.
The issue of using the coastal route came to the fore after a secretary-level meeting in Dhaka on Tuesday agreed in principle to work further on operating vessels between Bangladesh and India.
The proposal was tabled by Bangladesh.
At present, if Bangladesh imports goods from Mumbai, Chennai or any other port in India, it comes to Chittagong or Mongla port via Singapore or Colombo port in Sri Lanka. It costs $ 1,200 a tonne.
But if the cargo or vessel is allowed to ply the coast, the cost wiU come down to $300-$350 per tonne, according to industry experts.
Sheikh Mahfuz Hamid, joint secretary of Coab, said he had been trying to get the permission to use the route for the last eight years as it "would benefit" Bangladesh.
“We oppose transhipment or transit through road or rail that cannot meet the country's own demand. If we give the facility to India it should be on waterways,” said Mahfuz.
According to Coab, Bangladesh can earn about $300 million per year by carrying 3 lakh tonnes of goods to and from India through the coastal belt.
Mahfuz, however, says the initiative is at a primary stage as it has been discussed at a secretary-level meet for the first time.
The meeting that ended on Tuesday agreed to send a Bangladesh delegation led by the director general of the shipping department to examine the feasibility of introducing the new idea of coastal shipping.
This correspondent made repeated attempts to reach Shipping Secretary Abdul Mannan Howlader for comments over the phone, but he did not take any call.