Cabinet clears agreements with India on Chattogram, Mongla ports

BSS: The cabinet yesterday approved a proposed agreement with New Delhi enabling the neighbouring country to use Chattogram and Mongla ports for goods movement to and from India. “The weekly cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair
at her office gave the approval,” Cabinet Secretary Md. Shafiul Alam told a
media briefing at Bangladesh Secretariat. Alam said the agreement would allow India to use Chattogram and Mongla ports to carry goods to their North Eastern states in a very short time. “The draft suggested the agreement to be effective for five years with a provision of auto renewal for another five years (while) either of the countries could cancel it giving six month notice,” he said. Four routes were suggested for the goods movements which are – Chattogram
Port/ Mongla Port-Agartala via Akhaura; Chattogram/Mongla-Daouki via Tamabil;
Chattogram/ Mongla-Sutarkandi via Sheola; and Chattogram/Mongla-Bibekbazar
via Simantapur. But, Alam said, under the agreement only Bangladeshi vehicles and vessels
would be used to carry the goods inside Bangladesh. “Primarily the agreement
will be signed between Bangladesh and India and Nepal and Bhutan can also
join the pact,” the cabinet secretary said. He said the neighbouring country, however, would have to follow the international rules and General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT) as well
as Bangladeshi laws and rules in carrying the goods. The agreement suggested Bangladesh’s tax authorities would take bond
equivalent to duties and taxes from Indian companies while charges, fees and
carrying cost will be charged according to GATT principle in addition to
regular duty and taxes. The draft deal said Bangladesh authorities would use tracking systems like
global positioning system (GPS), e-lock and e-seal to identify the goods
carrying vessels. “A major objective of the proposed agreement was to strengthen the existing
cordial bilateral ties,” Alam said. The cabinet, he said, also approved today a proposed agreement with a
Chinese company on power sector business allowing state owned West Zone Power
Distribution Company (WZOPADICO) Ltd to sign the deal with Hexing Electrical
Co. Ltd. China to establish a joint venture company. The company would be called Bangladesh Smart Electrical Company (BSEC) Ltd
to produce smart meter and other electrical goods with authorized and paid up
capitals worth Taka 50 crore and Taka 28.60 crore respectively. The cabinet secretary said the WZPOADICO with 51 percent share of the
company will provide Taka 14.58 crore while Chinese company will give Taka
14.02 crore as capital. The meeting Okayed as well a proposal to ratify an amendment to the OIC
Charter suggesting its summit to be held in every two years instead of
existing three years. The meeting witnessed the approval of drafts of Bangladesh Public
Administration Training Centre (BPTC) Act, 2018 and National Curriculum and
Textbook Board Act, 2018 replacing two related ordinances promulgated in 1984
and 1983 respectively by the then military regime.