Regular coastal shipping service with India soon -
bdnews24.com
Regular coastal shipping service with India soon
Gautam Debroy, New Delhi, bdnews24.com
Published: 2014-09-09 10:14:47.0 BdST Updated: 2014-09-09 10:14:47.0 BdST
This may happen after the forthcoming visit of Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood AIi to New Delhi.
Till date, there is only a riverine protocol between the two countries for movement of small vessels on rivers flowing in both the countries.
Starting of the regular coastal shipping service will not only reduce burden on road network but will also increase trade between the two countries.
Government sources told bdnews24.com that commercial trial run of vessels on India-Bangladesh coastal routes will begin in October.
“Regular coastal shipping between Bangladesh ports and India’s eastern ports such as Paradip and Haldia may commence by end of this year,” one official said but was not willing to be named.
The deal is likely to be finalized during the visit of the Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood AIi.
The Minister is coming on Sept 18 with an 18-member high level delegation to discuss issues like connectivity, trade and transit and commerce, among others.
Late in August, Bangladesh shipping department had informed its Indian counterpart that it has received a list of 18 vessels from the ship owners association for operations after New Delhi had suggested that Indian Registrar of Shipping can assist in certification of Bangladesh vessels.
New Delhi and Dhaka had signed an agreement in June to finalize the standard operating procedure (SOP) for coastal passage between the two countries.
“We will give national status to all certified Bangladeshi vessels to operate along our coast. We will follow same standard as in the case of our domestic vessels to promote the trade and cooperation,” a senior government official said.
Meanwhile, sources said that the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting will get under way on Sept 20 and Bangladesh is likely to raise the issues of Land Boundary Agreement and signing of the Teesta River Water Treaty.
The ruling Awami League government in Bangladesh has been trying hard to implement the land agreement and the Teesta water sharing matter, but strong opposition from different quarters in India has prevented that from happening.
“Political consultations are underway on Indo-Bangla Land Boundary Agreement while government was trying to build a consensus for the Teesta pact,” said Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj while giving 100-days report card of her ministry here in New Delhi.
Swaraj’s statement has again brought these two contentious issues on the limelight with the NDA government has already taking the initiatives to rebuild a strong relation with the neighbouring countries.
bdnews24.com
Regular coastal shipping service with India soon
Gautam Debroy, New Delhi, bdnews24.com
Published: 2014-09-09 10:14:47.0 BdST Updated: 2014-09-09 10:14:47.0 BdST
-
File Photo
This may happen after the forthcoming visit of Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood AIi to New Delhi.
Till date, there is only a riverine protocol between the two countries for movement of small vessels on rivers flowing in both the countries.
Starting of the regular coastal shipping service will not only reduce burden on road network but will also increase trade between the two countries.
Government sources told bdnews24.com that commercial trial run of vessels on India-Bangladesh coastal routes will begin in October.
“Regular coastal shipping between Bangladesh ports and India’s eastern ports such as Paradip and Haldia may commence by end of this year,” one official said but was not willing to be named.
The deal is likely to be finalized during the visit of the Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood AIi.
The Minister is coming on Sept 18 with an 18-member high level delegation to discuss issues like connectivity, trade and transit and commerce, among others.
Late in August, Bangladesh shipping department had informed its Indian counterpart that it has received a list of 18 vessels from the ship owners association for operations after New Delhi had suggested that Indian Registrar of Shipping can assist in certification of Bangladesh vessels.
New Delhi and Dhaka had signed an agreement in June to finalize the standard operating procedure (SOP) for coastal passage between the two countries.
“We will give national status to all certified Bangladeshi vessels to operate along our coast. We will follow same standard as in the case of our domestic vessels to promote the trade and cooperation,” a senior government official said.
Meanwhile, sources said that the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting will get under way on Sept 20 and Bangladesh is likely to raise the issues of Land Boundary Agreement and signing of the Teesta River Water Treaty.
The ruling Awami League government in Bangladesh has been trying hard to implement the land agreement and the Teesta water sharing matter, but strong opposition from different quarters in India has prevented that from happening.
“Political consultations are underway on Indo-Bangla Land Boundary Agreement while government was trying to build a consensus for the Teesta pact,” said Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj while giving 100-days report card of her ministry here in New Delhi.
Swaraj’s statement has again brought these two contentious issues on the limelight with the NDA government has already taking the initiatives to rebuild a strong relation with the neighbouring countries.
