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Saturday, January 23, 2010

[ALOCHONA] TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BANGLADESH and INDIA 1972



TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
 AND  THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF 
BANGLADESH

New Delhi, 28 March 1972

The Government of INDIA

AND

The Government of BANGLADESH

 CONSCIOUS of the urge of their two peoples to enlarge areas of mutual cooperation;

 DESIROUS of strengthening economic relations between the two countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit;

 RECOGNISING that the common people of both countries should be the beneficiaries of close cooperation between the two Governments in the fields of trade and development;

 AWARE that this objective can best be secured by organising trade between the two countries on a State-to-State basis as far as possible;

 HAVE agreed as follows :

Article I

 The two Governments recognising the need for requirements of each other in the context of the developing economies undertake to explore all possibilities for expansion and promotion of trade between the two countries on the basis of mutual advantage.

Article II

 The two Governments agree to an interim trade arrangement as set out in Schedule 'A' attached to this Agreement.

Article III

 Imports and exports of commodities and goods produced or manufactured in India or Bangladesh as the case may be which are not included in Schedule 'A' and, in the case of commodities and goods included in that schedule, imports and exports in excess of the values specified  therein shall be permitted in accordance with the import, export and foreign exchange laws, regulations and procedures in force in either country from time to time.

Article IV

 In order to meet the day to day requirements of the people living within a sixteen kilometre belt of border between West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram on the one hand and Bangladesh on the other, and with a view to providing facilities to these people to dispose of their goods, border trade shall be allowed in specified commodities in accordance with Schedule 'B' attached to this Agreement.

Article V

 The two Governments agree to make mutually beneficial arrangements for the use of their waterways, railways and road-ways for commerce between the two countries and for passage of goods between two places in one country through the territory of the other.

Article VI

 Each Government shall accord to the commerce of the country of the other Government treatment no less favourable than that accorded to the commerce of any third country.

Article VII

 The provisions of Article VI shall not prevent the grant or continuance of

(a) privileges which are or may be granted by either of the two Governments in order to facilitate frontier trade.

(b) advantages and privileges which are, or may be, granted by either of the two Governments to any of their respective neighbouring countries.

(c) advantages resulting from a customs union, a free trade area or similar arrangements which either of the two Governments has concluded or may conclude in the future.

(d) advantages or preferences accorded under any scheme for expansion of trade and economic cooperation among developing countries, which is open for participation by all developing countries, and to which either of the two Governments is or may become a party.

Article VIII

 The two Governments agree to cooperate effectively with each other to prevent infringement and circumvention of the laws, rules and regulations of either country in regard to matters relating to foreign exchange and foreign trade.

Article IX

 The two Governments agree to accord, subject to their respective laws and regulations, reasonable facilities for the holding of trade fairs and exhibitions and visits of business and trade delegations sponsored by the Government concerned.

Article X

 In order to facilitate the implementation of this Agreement, the two Governments shall consult each other as and when necessary and shall review the working of the Agreement, at the end of six months from the date of signature.

Article XI

 The Agreement shall come into force from 28th March 1972 and shall remain in force, in the first instance, for a period of one year.

Sd/-                                                          Sd/- 
L.N. MISHRA                                               M.R. SIDDIQUI
Minister of Foreign Trade                               Minister of Trade & Commerce
Government of India                                     Government of Bangladesh

28.3.1972.

ANNEXURE 'A'

1. The two Governments agree that licences shall, where necessary, be granted in accordance with the laws, regulations and procedures in force in either country from time to time to permit the import or export of the commodities and goods in Lists I and II below, upto the value mentioned against each with a view to balanced trade in commodities of special interest.

LIST I - EXPORTS TO BANGLADES

                                                                                                              (Rs. lakhs)

Commodities / Goods Value
1. Cement 450
2. Asphalt 100
3. Coal 400
4. Cotton textiles 25
5. Cotton yarn 150
6. Tobacco unmanufactured 1000
7. Stone Boulders
Hard wood
Barytes (white)
Lime and Limestone
Dolomite, Gypsum, Unslaked Lime
100
8. Books and Periodicals Gramophone records 20
9. Movies 15
10. Ayurvedic and unani medicines (medicinal herbs and crude drugs) 25
11. Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals 25
12. Spices 15
13. Infant milk food 25
14. Machinery and spare parts 50
15. Miscellaneous (items to be mutually agreed upon) 100
2500

LIST II - EXPORTS TO INDIA

                                                                                                             (Rs. Lakhs)

Commodities / Goods Value
1. Fresh fish 900
2. Semi-tanned cow hides including wet and blue 100
3. Furnace oil, jute batching oil and naptha 150
4. Newsprint and low grammage writing paper 300
5. Raw jute 750
6. Molasses 25
7. Ayurvedic and unani medicines 25
8. Books Periodicals and Gramophone records 20
9. Movies 15
10. Pharmaceuticals 10
11. Spices 5
12. Simul Cotton (Kapok)
Hard Board
Handloom products
100
13. Miscellaneous (items to be mutually agreed upon) 100
2500

2. For the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of paragraph I, the Local Head Office of the State Bank of India at Calcutta and the bank designated by the Bank of Bangladesh, Dacca, shall open special accounts with each other, to be utilised solely for the purpose of making payments to exporters in either country by the bank incorporated and resident in that country on behalf of its correspondent in the other country.  Subject to the laws and regulations as in force in the two countries from time to time overdraft facilities shall be given by either bank to its correspondent in the other country.  In the event of the overdraft in either account being in excess of the limit stipulated by the relevant law or regulation as applicable to or in relation to that account, the Government of the country in which the account is maintained will grant special loan to the bank concerned provided that the total amount of such loan or loans together shall not be in excess of five crores of Indian rupees or five crores of Bangladesh Takas.  The said loan shall be granted free of interest by the two Governments.  In exceptional circumstances the two Governments will agree to increase the limit of the loan in order to facilitate the continuance of trade.  Such excess over rupees five crores will carry a rate of interest of six percent.  The amount outstanding on the expiry of the agreement shall be settled in Pounds Sterling or in any other manner mutually agreed upon.  The Local Head Office of the State Bank of India at Calcutta will in consultation with the bank designated by the Bank of Bangladesh, Dacca, finalise the details of the banking arrangements in pursuance of the provisions of this article which would inter alia provide for adjustments of overdrafts periodically.

3. In the event of change in the parity of either the Indian rupee or the Bangladesh Taka, while these arrangements are in force, the two Governments will consult each other with a view to reaching an agreed solution to the problem of adjustments.

4. Imports and exports of the commodities and goods in lists I and II above which are in excess of the value shown against them and of commodities and goods which are not included in those lists shall, subject to import, export and foreign exchange laws, regulations and procedures in force in either country from time to time, be financed through authorised dealers in foreign exchange in either country acting through their correspondents in the other country.  Subject to the provisions of the exchange regulations in force in the two countries, an authorised dealer may grant to the correspondent in the other country an overdraft to such extent and on such terms and conditions as may be permitted by the Reserve Bank of India or the Bangladesh Bank as the case may be.  The settlement of amounts due to or from an authorised dealer from or to the correspondent in accordance with these arrangements will be in Pounds Sterling.  The Reserve Bank of India and the Bangladesh Bank will in consultation with each other endeavour to provide the maximum facilities possible for facilitating the flow of trade in accordance with the provisions of Article III.

5. Subject to such exceptions as may be made by mutual agreement between the two Governments, commodities and goods imported into one country from the other shall not be re-exported to a third country.

SCHEDULE 'B'
PROVISIONS RELATING TO BORDER TRADE REFERRED TO IN 
ARTICLE IV OF THE AGREEMENT

1. These facilities shall apply to the trade across the land customs frontiers between West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram on the one hand and Bangladesh on the other.

2. These facilities shall be available only to persons living in areas other than municipal areas, within sixteen kilometres of the land customs frontiers and holding special permits issued by their respective competent authority.

3. Every person holding such a special permit may carry across the border in each sector only such goods and commodities and in such quantities as are specified, in the annexure to the schedule and for this purpose may cross the border only once a day in each direction or any two specified days of a week and only through such routes as may be authorised in this behalf.  If market conditions in a locality justify relaxation of the number of days in a week on which persons holding special permits may cross the border between the concerned competent authorities in the two countries.

4. The carriage of such goods shall be free from import, export, exchange control restrictions as well as customs duty and customs formalities.

5. Each person may carry in cash a sum not exceeding one hundred in Bangladesh or Indian currency when crossing the border from either country into the other.

6. Either Government may maintain such checks and take such preventive measures including the right to search as are considered necessary to ensure that these concessions are not exceeded or abused.

7. These arrangements shall be subject to review after a period of six months to consider whether they should be extended or amended in any way.  If even before the expiry of this period of six months either country feels the need to withdraw or modify the facilities under this Agreement, it would enter into immediate consultations with the other country taking such measures as it may consider necessary.

ANNEXURE TO SCHEDULE 'B'
I-Mizoram-Chittagong Hill Tracts Sector

_______________________________________________________________________________
 Mizoram to Chittagong                                                                 Chittagong-Miroram
_______________________________________________________________________________
 

Name of Commodities  Quantities allowed to be carried  Name of Commodities  Quantities allowed to be carried 
1. Til seeds  Head load  1. Gur  Head load
2. Raw Cotton  Do  2. Onion and Garlic  Do
3. Chillies  Do  3. Fish, fresh and dried  Do
4. Forest produce  (including timber unclassed   agarwood, cane thatching grass, firewood and bamboos)  Boat load raft or 
cart load 
4. Poultry and eggs  Do
5. Vegetables  including potatos including potatos  Do
6. Fresh fruits  Do
5. Fresh fruits  Head load  7. Chhana and Sweetmeats 1 Kilogram
8. Betel Nuts  1/4 Kilogram
6. Milk and Milk Products  Do  9. Betelleaves  Head load
10. Spices  2 Kilograms
11. Earthen-ware  Head load
12. Tea  1/2 Kilogram 

II-Khasi Jainitia and Garo Hills-Sylhet Mymensingh Sector

_______________________________________________________________________________
 For export from Khasi, Jainitia and Garo                    For export from Sylhet and Mymensingh
 hills to Sylbet and Mymensingh                                      to Khasi Jainitia Hills and Garo Hills
_______________________________________________________________________________
 
Name of Commodities  Quantities allowed to be carried  Name of Commodities  Quantities allowed  to be carried
1. Fresh fruits  Head load  1. Fish, fresh and dried  Head load
2. Vegetables including potatoes Do  2. Poultry and eggs  Do
3. Forest produce  (including timber unclassed  agarwood, cane thatching grass, firewood and  bamboos)  Boat load raft or cart load  3. Vegetables Do
4. Ginger, Turmeric, 
    Chillies & Tejpatta
Head Load 4. Betelnuts 
 
1 Kilogram
5. Onion  Do  5. Betel leaves  Head load 
6. Tapioca  Do  6. Spices  2 Kilograms
7. Milk and Milk products  Do 7. Chhana and sweetmeats  1 Kilogram
8. Lime and lime stone  Do 8. Fresh fruits  Head load
  9. Shingles and 
    Boulders
Boat, raft or cart load
10. Sand  Do
11. Betel leaves  Head Load
12. Mustard oil  1 Kilogram
13. Mustard seed   Head load
 
III-Cachar-Syllet Sector
_______________________________________________________________________________

 For export from Cachar to Syllet                                      For export from Sylhet to Cachar
_______________________________________________________________________________
 

Name of Commodities  Quantities allowed to be carried  Name of Commodities  Quantities allowed to be carried 
1. Forest produce  (including timber unclassed agarwood, cane, thatching grass, firewood and bamboos)  Boat load raft or  cart load  1. Fish, Fresh & dried  Head load
2. Poultry and eggs  Do
3. Soap (Washing)  1/2 Kilogram
2. Kerosene oil  1 Bottle  4. Spieces including ginger 2 Kilograms
 
3. Vegetables (including potatoes) Head load  5. Onion and Garlic  Head load
4. Milk and Milk  products Do 6. Fresh fruits  Do
7. Vegetables  Do
5. Soap (Washing)  1/2 kilogram  8. Chhana and sweetmeatas  1 Kilogram
 
IV-Tripura Bangladesh Sector
_______________________________________________________________________________
 For export from Tripura to Bangladesh                        For export from Bangladesh to Tripura
_______________________________________________________________________________
 
 
Name of Commodities  Quantities allowed to be carried  Name of Commodities  Quantities allowed   to be carried 
1. Vegetables (including (potatoes)  Head load  1. Poultry and eggs  Head load
2. Milk and milk products  Do  2. Chhana and Sweetmeat  1 Kilogram
3. Forest produce  (including timber unclassed agarwood, cane, thatching glass, firewood and bamboos)  Boat load raft or  cart load  3. Fish, Fresh and dried  Head load
4. Vetetables  Do
5. Onion and Garlic  Do
6. Coconut (dry and green) Do
4. Til Seeds    Head Load   7. Fresh fruits  Do
5. Fresh fruits   Do  8. Gram and Pulse  Do
6. Gram and Pulses  Do  9. Betel leaves  Do
7. Kerosene   1 Bottle 10. Spices   2 Kilograms

V-Rangpur (Bangladesh)-Assam (Bordering district) Cooch
Behar/Jalpaiguri (West Bengal) Sector

_______________________________________________________________________________
Export from Assam bordering district to                Export from Rangpur (Bangladesh) to Assam
Rangpur) Cooch Behar Jalpaiguri (West                 bordering district to Rangpur) Cooch Behar,
Bengal) to Rangpur (Bangladesh)                                                Jalpaiguri (West Bengal)
_______________________________________________________________________________
 
Name of Commodities  Quantities allowed to be carried Name of Commodities  Quantities allowed to be carried
1. Fresh fruits  Head load  1. Fish  Head load
2. Vegetables including potatos  Do  2. Poultry and eggs  Do
3. Spices  2 Kilograms  3. Tobacco  1 Kilogram
4. Firewood  Head Load  4. Coconuts  Head Load
5. Milk and Milk Products  Do  5. Betel leaves  Do
6. Tobacco  1 Kilogram  6. Spices  2 Kilograms
7. Washing Soap  1/4 Kilogram  7. Salt  1 Kilogram
8. Bamboo  Boat load, raft or cart load  8. Fodder or cattle  Head Load
9. Mustard oil  1 Kilogram  9. Bamboo  Head load raft or cart load
10. Mustard seed/rape seed  Head Load  10. Thatching grass  Do
11. Coconut oils  1 Kilogram  11. Hogla leaves  Head Load
12. Firewood  Do
13. Gur  Do
14. Chhana and Sweatmeats   Do

VI-Rest of Bangladesh - Rest of West Bengal

_______________________________________________________________________________
Export from West Bengal to Bangladesh                     Export from Bangladesh to West Bengal
_______________________________________________________________________________
 
 
Name of Commodities  Quantities allowed   to be carried  Name of Commodities  Quantities allowed   to be carried 
1. Fresh Fruits  Head load  1. Fish  Head load
2. Vegetables  Do  2. Poultry and eggs  Do
3. Spices  2 Kilogram  3. Coconuts  Do
4. Milk and Milk products  Head load  4. Spices  2 Kilograms
5. Gram and pulses  Do  5. Betel leaves  Head load
6. Gur  Do  6. Fooder/cattle  Do
7. Firewood  Boat load raft or cart load  7. Golpatta  Do
8. Bamboo  Do  8. Chhana and  Sweet meats Do
 9. Thatching grass  Do  9. Fresh fruits  Do
10. Simul cotton  Head Load  10. Vegetables  Do
11. Mustard oil  1 Kilogram  11. Hogla leaves  Do
12. Mustard seed/rape seed)  Head Load  12. Firewood  Do
13. Coconut oil  1 Kilogram  13. Broomsticks  Do
14. Simul cotton  Do
15. Gur  Do
16. Bamboo  Boat, raft or cart load
17. Thatching grass  Do 

PROTOCOL
Dacca, 1 November 1972

 In pursuance of Article V of the Trade Agreement entered into between the Government of India and the Government of Bangladesh on 28th March 1972, wherein the two Governments agreed to make mutually beneficial agreements for the use of their waterways for commerce between the two countries and for passage of goods between two places in one country through the territory of the other, it is further agreed as follows :

1. Definition :

 For the purpose of this protocol unless the context otherwise requires :

 (a) The terms "Competent Authorities" will mean the authorities authorised by the respectige Governments.

 (b) The term "Route" will refer to the routes :

  1. Calcutta-Raimangal-Khulna-Barisal-Chandpur-Goalun
   -do-Serajganj - Behadurabad-Chilmari-Dhubri.

  2. Calcutta-Raimangal-Barisal-Chandpur-Narayanganj-
   Bhairab Bazar - Ajmirganj - Markulir - Sherpur -
   Fenchuganj-Zakiganj-Kazimganj.

  3. Dhubri/Chilmari-Bahadurabad-Serajganj-Goalundo-
   Chandpur-Barisal-Khulna-Raimangal-Calcutta.

  4. Karimganj-Zakirganj-Fenchuganj-Sherpur-Markulir-
   Ajmirganj-Bhairab Bazar - Narayanganj - Chandpur
   - Barisal-Raimangal-Calcutta.

  Or such other routes as may be prescribed by the competent authorities from time to time.

 (c) The terms "Vessels" will mean the watercraft which are registered under I.M.P.V. Act, 1917 in case of Bangladesh vessels and I.S.V. Act, 1917 in case of Indian vessels.

2. Conservancy and pilotage :

 Each country will maintain the river routes falling within its territory in a navigable condition and provide aids for running vessels at night and all the essential pilotage and conservancy services.

3. Hydrographic surveys :

 Hyderographic surveys will be undertaken on the different routes by the concerned Government, if so desired by the other.  Survey maps relating to the routes traversed by inter-country or transit traffic will be made available to the operators actually engaged in the traffic.

4. Port dues and other charges :

 Port dues may be levied by the competent authorities in either country on the vessels belonging to the other country and engaged in inter-country or transit transport at the same rate as applicable to local vessels.

 The competent authorities in either country may also levy on the vessels of the other, charges for conservancy, pilotage and other specific services at par with those charged from the local vessels.  For convenience of assessment the charges will normally be determined with reference to the tonage of traffic carried by the vessels.

5. Handling Facilities :

 Each country will permit the vessels of the other country to utilise all available cranes and other handling facilities on the same terms and conditions as applicable to local vessels.  Operators of one country may also take their own floating or shore-based crane to the other country for their own use where the host country is unable to provide such facilities.

6. Supply of bunkers :

 The vessels of either country running between the two countries and also between places in the same country through the other country will be permitted to purchase the fuel required by them for the purpose of their operations.  Inland vessels registered in India may be bunkered at Khulna, Barisal, Narayanganj, Dacca or Goalundo in Bangladesh.  Like-wise, vessels registered in Bangladesh may be bunkered at Calcutta, Budgebudge, Haldia, Karimganj, Dhubri, Pandu or Neamati in India.

 The Indian concerned vessels may maintain for their exclusive use their coal dumps on premises as may be leased out by the BIWTA and as may be mutually agreed upon.

7. Purchase of essential stores :

 The vessels operating in either  country will be allowed to purchase the stores they may require for their operation during any voyage in the other country.

8. Purchase of rations/provisions by the fleet personnel during their voyage :

 Ration, fresh food and other provisions essential for fleet personnel will be allowed to be purchased in either country to meet the requirements of a voyage.

9. Repair facilities :

 Vessels of either country calling for urgent repairs en-route will be allowed to have repairs done at the Government owned marine workshops in either country.  The expenditure incurred on such repairs will be reported by the operators to the concerned foreign exchange authorities for their clearance in accordance with the provisions of Article 24.

10. Assistance to be provided by either country to the Vessels of the other in distress :

 Each country will provide all the necessary facilities to the vessels of the other, which may be grounded or otherwise in distress during their voyage in its waterways.  Expenditure incurred on salvage operations, if required on such occasions shall be cleared in accordance with the arrangements to be established under Article 24.

11. Recognition of survey certificates and other documents :

 The survey certificates and other documents issued by the appropriate authorities in one country for the vessels registered in it and running to or through the other will be recognised and accepted as valid by the other.  These certificates or documents shall be produced by the Master of the vessel concerned at the point of entry and at any other point, as may be required during the voyage.

12. Flying of flags :

 The vessel of each country will carry its national flag and the national flage of the country which it is transiting beside the flag.

13. Use of radio-telephone by river craft :

 Inland vessels will be allowed to be equipped with radio-telephone for facilities of speedy communications, especially in emergencies, in conformity with the current regulations of either country.

14. Registration and issue of identity cards :

 The personnel manning vessels plying through or between the two countries shall carry certificates of employment and permits, with  a photograph of the concerned individual duly authenticated by the authorities to be nominated by the respective countries in regard to their personnel.  Officers supervising or controlling the fleet of the operators in either country shall carry passports endorsed with multi-journey visas.

15. Permission of fleet personnel and travelling officers to go by rail, road or air in special
 circumstances.

 Fleet personnel and travelling officers posted to any of the vessels in transit in either country will be allowed to travel by rail, road or air, whenever they are required to join duty on the vessels or when they have to leave their duty on the vessels by reason of sickness or other emergency.

16. Prohibition on vessels in transit :

 Vessels in transit through one country will not engage in inter-country trade and will not take or discharge cargo or passengers in the country through which they are passing.

17. Sharing of inter-country trade :

 The two countries will endeavour to carry inter-country trade on equal tonnage basis.  The competent authorities of the two countries may mutually consult with each other to implement this through appropriate measures.

18. Common freight rates :

 The operators in both the countries will charge to the extent practicable uniform freight rates for inter-country traffic.  Such rates will be fixed by the competent authorities by mutual consultations.

19. Involving uniform documentation for vessels :

 The documents issued in accordance with the regulation in one country in respect of the cargoes carried by vessels going to, or through the other country will be accepted by the other.  Efforts will be made to evolve uniform documentation in both the country as early as  possible.  Manifest shall be submitted for in transit goods in duplicate in addition to Manifest Book to the Customs Officer at the point of entry, one of which will be retained by him and the other duly endorsed will be sent in sealed cover through the Master of the vessel to the Customs Officer at the exit point.

20. Customs checks and documentation :

 Both the countries agree to reduce customs documentation and other requirements to the essential minimum, and to have customs stations at or near the point of entry and exit in each country.

21. Freight remittance facilities :

 The freight earned by the vessels of either country from traffic originating in the other and carried by them will be allowed to be remitted to the owners of the vessels in accordance with the arrangements for remittance of surplus collection between the two countries that may be in force from time to time in accordance with Article 24.

22. Permission to operate trucks between places in India and river stations in Bangladesh :

 Bangladesh trucks and/or tractor-trailers may carry cargoes transhipped from river craft at Sherpur and Chatak to the Indian border.

 Cargoes brought by deeper-draft vessels from India upto Sherpur or any other point on the waterways in Bangladesh may be transhipped into shallow-draft craft for destinations in India.  Conversely, transhipment can also be made from shallow-draft vessels to deeper-draft vessels.  Transhipment will be carried out under the supervision of IWTA, and customs authorities of Bangladesh.

23. Opening of branch offices and appointment of agents :

 The operators or vessels in one country will be allowed to open their branch offices or appoint their agents only at major inland ports and secondary river ports in the other.

24. Arrangements for settlement, clearance and remittance :

 Subject to their respective foreign exchange regulations the competent authorities of India and Bangladesh shall, through mutual consultations, establish a comprehensive system for the settlement, clearance and remittance of all sums, claims or dues on account of goods supplied, services rendered or facilities afforded to the vessels of one country in or by the other.

25. Setting up a Standing Committee :

 For evaluating and reviewing the working of this Protocol and for the purpose of improvement of Inland water transportation between the two countries, there shall be a Standing Committee, including representatives of the Ministry of Shipping and Transport in India and the Ministry of Shipping, Inland Water Transport and Aviation in Bangladesh, the representatives of the Ministries of Finance of India and Bangladesh, the representatives of the CIWTC of India and the BIWTA of Bangladesh, the concerned Collectors of Land Customs and two representatives of the operators, one from each country.  The Committee may co-opt any other members whose participation is considered necessary by it.  The Standing Committee shall meet at least once in six months.

26. Terms of the Protocol :

 This arrangement shall come into force from the date of signature and shall remain in force for an initial period of five years from that date.

 DONE in Dacca on the first day of November, Nineteen hundred and Seventy-two in two original copies, both in English.

On behalf of the Government                                 On behalf of the Government
of India                                                             of the People's Republic
                                                                       of Bangladesh
 

Sd/-                                                                 Sd/-
M.G. PIMPUTKAR                                                 S. Z. KHAN
Secretary, Ministry of                                          Secretary,  Ministry of
Transport and Shipping                                        Shipping, Inland Water
                                                                       Transport and Aviation
 

http://meaindia.nic.in/



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[ALOCHONA] OMS rice in black market



OMS rice in black market
 
 


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[ALOCHONA] Improving working conditions in Bangladesh garment factory



Improving working conditions in Bangladesh garment factory

By Caroline Bayley
BBC Radio 4 In Business programme

Garment worker Shulie in the Windy Group factory
Garment worker Shulie has now moved to the new, safer factory

Shulie sits bent over her sewing machine amidst row upon row of Bangladeshi garment workers - a sea of denim blue as each one whizzes up and down the seams of jeans destined for Zara, the Western fashion chain.

The deafening whirr of hundreds of sewing machines, the faces covered with masks, the fixed concentration, all reflect a modern Bangladeshi garment factory. It is hard work, long hours and by Western standards, low pay.

But it is one of the better ones.

This is Windy Group, a garment factory on the outskirts of Dhaka. A few months ago the company moved into this new modern facility. It is spacious, cool and well lit.

And BBC Radio 4's "In Business" has played its own small part in bringing about change in this particular supply chain company.

Bad conditions

Eighteen months ago, we highlighted the appalling conditions in one of its city centre factories, Windy Apparels, after the BBC's Dhaka reporter spoke to some of its workers. Two of them said they were making clothes for Zara.

In Business alerted Inditex, the owner of Zara, and their Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Javier Chercoles, flew to Bangladesh to investigate. He established that this particular factory was not making clothes for Zara.

LISTEN TO THE PROGRAMME
In Business, BBC Radio 4, Thursday 21 January at 2030 GMT and Sunday 24 January at 2130 GMT
Or listen via the BBC iPlayer
Or download the podcast.

However, he realised that it was a sister factory to another which they were using as suppliers. And when he finally got inside the factory he was shocked by the conditions there:

"Conditions were bad because it was an old factory from about 1975 to 1980, four floors, city centre of Dhaka, no evacuation stairs, too many people."

Javier Chercoles gave the factory owner, Mesbah Uddin Khan an ultimatum: close this factory and improve conditions at a new site if you want Inditex (and Zara) to remain a customer of yours.

Mr Khan was told by Inditex that if he was willing to bring about major changes, they would support him and give him orders. "They said we will get priority," he remembers, "if we can improve our working conditions as they want."

Neil Kearney

Now, more than a year later, two thirds of the staff have moved to the new modern site and those who did not want to were given severance pay. All the Windy Group companies have been amalgamated at the new factory which has several storeys and room to increase production further.

One of the main players who helped influence and bring about this transformation at Windy Group was the late Neil Kearney, General Secretary of the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Federation (ITGLWF) - the global umbrella federation of unions for the worldwide garment sector.

If the buyer makes the demand the industry has to respond to that
Neil Kearney

He spent a day with us to help tell the story. Tragically he died of a heart attack in Bangladesh after the programme was recorded. He had worked tirelessly around the world, and particularly in Bangladesh, to improve working conditions in the garment sector.

Here is how he assessed the new Windy Group factory: "This is what factories on the way to progress should look like. This factory is very much better than the majority of traditional factories in Bangladesh.

"Of course there are many improvements that can still be made," he added. "But it is a long way from what many of these workers were involved in six months ago."

Neil Kearney and Javier Chercoles in the factory
Neil Kearney (L) and Javier Chercoles (R) inspect clothes being made in the Windy Group factory

Although this was only one factory out of more than 4000 in Bangladesh, Neil Kearney said simply that you have to start somewhere. He believed that currently out of 10,000 Western buyers only about 100 of them were trying to improve working conditions. And it was the buyers who had the power to make change happen.

"It's what every factory should be moving towards and every buyer should be doing the same thing," he said. "Because if the buyer makes the demand, the industry has to respond to that."

Javier Chercoles of Inditex says "We have the first one here. An example" which he hopes others will follow. Since the old Windy factory was closed, Inditex has persuaded another company, Elaine Garments, to close its dangerous city-centre site and move to a safer, more modern factory.

Increase wages

For Neil Kearney the major issue in the garment sector was wages. He was extremely concerned that the minimum wage set by the Bangladesh government had not been raised for three years. It is currently 1662 Bangladeshi Taka a month, about £15 or $24, for an entry level worker such as a "helper" in a garment factory.

He took us to a meeting at the Bangladesh parliament with Israfil Alam, who is a member of parliament and chairman of the Standing Committee of Labour and Employment.

Israfil Alam said the government planned to double the minimum wage but that it would not be raised on an annual basis: "Our prime minister is committed to increasing the salaries and wages of all workers of Bangladesh."

Israfil Alam pledged that it would be done within the next year, and also that Bangladesh would embrace an International Labour Organisation (ILO) programme to improve working conditions.

Other workers and piles of jeans in the garment factory
The clothes are being made for Western fashion chains

"If you come back to Bangladesh in a year's time, you will see that everything is okay."

Neil Kearney was pleased with the breakthrough, but realistic:

"I wouldn't be so optimistic as to say everything will be okay, but hopefully we will be on the road to much better conditions."

That evening, after that meeting and visits to the Windy Group, he died in his hotel in Dhaka, shocking the many people who had worked with him to such effect in many parts of the world.

He had visited Bangladesh more than 50 times since 1988, constantly striving to improve conditions in the garment factories. The day after he died the Bangladeshi unions and the factory bosses' organisation jointly described Neil as "a true friend of Bangladesh" and three days of mourning were declared in the textile and garment sector.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8469977.stm

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[ALOCHONA] Re: [khabor.com] Post-modern Razakars and Shiv Shenas



Dear Readers:
 
An excellent analysis of Shimul Choudhury. Beside my support to the statement of Shimul Choudhury, as a Muslim I feel very bad when "Razakar" is called to a person who neither supported Pakistan Government during Bangladesh liberation War in 1971 nor even was born before 1971. Razakar is an Arabic word which is meant "volunteer" and should not be generalized in using (please correct me if I'm wrong in meaning).
 
How about patriots of Bangladesh like both Jalils (as narrated by Shimul Choudhury) should start calling "shiv shena" who supports Indianism, Indian government's policies or activities against Bangladesh?

Only Shiv Shena minded Bangladeshi can generalized Razakar everywhere for their own benefits even if those (benefits) go against the interests of Bangladesh.

Anis Ahmed
 
 
On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 8:31 PM, Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com> wrote: 

Post-modern Razakars

 
Shimul Chaudhury

I was born in post-1971 Bangladesh and started to be familiar with national politics and political debates in the late 1980s. The 1990s onwards has been the period of my political come-of-age. Throughout my whole political exposure and experience, I think I have heard the work 'razakar' more than any other terms as far as Bangladeshi politics is concerned. It is at times used as a tool to damage the reputation of rival political groups and as a swearing word during informal conversations. It is used both by educated and un-educated people alike, equally by professors and the street urchins. I have also heard renowned Bangladeshi university academics using the term in a manner which does not befit their status. In the West, children at schools are taught not to use bad language that includes swear words. However, in Bangladesh, with regard to using the term razakar, many educated gentries including university professors seem to bring themselves down to the vulgarity of streetscape. All these facts about the term 'razakar' make me most curious and persuade me to look at it critically.

My curiosity with the word razakar reached its climax on several occasions. On two such occasions, the name 'Jalil' has been at the centre of interest. The first Jalil is Major M A Jalil who bravely and fearlessly fought for the liberation of Bangladesh during the 1971 war of independence. That he was the commander of the ninth sector of the freedom fighters should amply point to his extraordinary contribution to the Bangladesh war of liberation. However, despite his glorious credentials as a freedom fighter and as a sector commander, he had to die with the 'taint' of being a razakar. My next climax of curiosity is very recent, and it involves the second Jalil. In September this year (2009), the former secretary general of Awami League, Abdul Jalil made known in the UK that the party had come to power through an 'understanding' and that the general election of 29 December 2008 was 'fake'. Few days after Jalil's disclosure, an Awami League rally in Sylhet branded him a 'razakar'.

Apart from the branding of these two Jalils as razakars, I have encountered many other incidents where people randomly call each other razakar. At students' dormitories at the universities in Bangladesh, if a student is regular in masjid and is not involved in antisocial and immoral activities, he takes the risk of being called a razakar. In public offices in Bangladesh, if an officer does not take bribe and stops his subordinates from the unethical practice, he may not be able to avoid the fate of being regarded as a razakar. Sometimes in everyday life, a morally clean person with Islamic leanings runs the risk of being called a razakar. My experiences with the term razakar may not agree with those of many people; but I believe no sensible person will deny that in Bangladesh many good people are being labeled as razakars irrespective of their roles in 1971. People who did not collaborate with the Pakistani army in 1971 and people who were born after 1971 are not necessarily immune to this derogatory term. These anomalies with the term razakar must make a person pause and think in order to get to the root of the issues involved in the contemporary politics of Bangladesh.

Actually, razakar is a Persian word and it means volunteer. However, during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971, a group of people aided the Pakistani army against the local freedom fighters, and they were known as razakars. But, current indiscriminate and bewilderingly misplaced use of the term has given it newer meanings in Bangladeshi politics. This will become clearer if we analyze the reasons why the two Jalils mentioned above were termed as razakar. Major M A Jalil became a razakar in the eyes of his opponents mainly for three reasons: 1) his dissociation from secular politics in Bangladesh, 2) his subsequent Islamic leanings, and 3) his writing and political stance against Indian hegemony. Later day Abdul Jalil was branded a razakar because of his criticism of his party Awami League, which implicitly suggests his anti-Indian sentiment as the party's affinity and close tie with India is common knowledge. Theoretically at least, the term razakar should be used to describe a Bangladeshi person who goes against the interest of Bangladesh. But, practically in the current political reality of Bangladesh, any person who goes against Indian interests is generally given the bad name of razakar. Thanks to a number of Bangladeshi newspapers with understood Indian inclination! If Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were alive today and maintained his usual anti-Indianism, he had every chance to be categorized as a razakar by the pro-Indian newspapers in Dhaka.

In 1971, people who collaborated with the Pakistani oppressors were called razakars. In post-1971 Bangladesh, Pakistan has become almost irrelevant. I have not met anybody expressing a desire to re-integrate with Pakistan. Bangladesh now has its new international enemies and neo-colonial masters. One enemy is obviously India, a country that helped Bangladesh become independent. However, although collaboration with foreign powers against the interest of the country is very much true today as it was in 1971, the neo-collaborators comfortably escape any derogatory terms like razakars. The neo-collaborators frequently use the term razakar to describe the erstwhile pro-Pakistani collaborators and to conceal their continuous anti-Bangladesh activities. I call this kind of people post-modern razakars. We should identify the following categories of people and associate them with the hated term razakar:

1) Those who keep quiet when the Indian BSF regularly kills Bangladeshis in the border region.

2) Those who keep quiet when Indian and Western diplomats in Dhaka interfere in our national politics.

3) Those who disregard the public and seek the help of foreign missions in Dhaka to go to power.

4) Those who keep quiet when India goes ahead with building the Tipai dam that will have disastrous consequences for the people of Bangladesh.

5) Those who keep quiet when Indian government and media give Bangladesh a bad name in the international arena.

6) Those who earn money in Bangladesh and spend it in India and other foreign countries.

7) Those who get their children educated at foreign universities and do not show any concern about the continuous degradation of education culture at the universities in Bangladesh.

8) Those who regularly visit Indian high commission to enjoy 'free' wine and remain silent about the trade imbalances and other unequal relations between Bangladesh and India.

9) Those who switch off Bangladeshi TV channels and spend their time watching Indian channels.

10) Those who are negligent about their duties in public offices and universities.

11) Those who take bribe and steal public money.

While collaboration with Pakistani army is a matter of the past which may not harm the national interest of Bangladesh any more, current collaboration with foreign powers is a reality and is destroying our motherland at an alarming rate. We should identify the post-modern razakars, isolate them and stop their anti-Bangladesh activities. Dear readers, you may know very well that post-modern razakars pronounce the term razakar more often, and that to conceal their anti-Bangladesh activities and divert out attention from down-to-earth issues. Chorer mar boro gola!

Shimul Chaudhury
e mAIL : honestdebater@yahoo.ca

http://newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=301388



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