The High Commission of India in Bangladesh in a recent communication made to the foreign ministry revived the old issue of transit and wanted an agreement to be signed during the bilateral diplomatic parley scheduled for July 17-18 in the Indian capital, a top government official said.
India's long-pressed demand for transit, or diplomatically-worded transshipment, through Bangladesh was lost in political debates and mutual mistrusts stemmed mainly from New Delhi's reluctance to ease non-tariff barriers to bilateral trade.
This time India seeks transit facility under a draft agreement 'for the regulation of passenger and cargo vehicular traffic between the two countries,' tactfully avoiding the word 'transit' because of its political sensitivity, a communication ministry official told New Age.
Representatives from the ministries of foreign affairs, communication and commerce will be included in the Bangladesh delegation for the two-day foreign secretary-level talks in New Delhi.
An inter-ministerial meeting will soon be convened by the foreign ministry to finalise country position on the most sensitive issue that was carefully avoided by the two previous governments fearing political backlash in the country.
'Actually, the issue of giving transit facility to India has not yet been decided taking into account the sensitivity involved with it,' communication secretary Mahbubur Rahman told New Age Monday.'We have to sit and consult with the government high-ups before taking a decision.'
According to the Indian draft, Indian vehicles with goods and containerized cargo will enter Bangladesh territory through Benapole land port and again enter Indian states Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram through Bangladesh boarder points of Tamabil, Bibirbazar and Khagrachari, sources said.Besides, passenger vehicles will also pass through Bangladesh to go from one part of India to other parts, the draft said.
The Indian vehicles, which will ply between parts of India through Bangladesh territories, will be certified by relevant authorities and given permission for a maximum period of five years, the draft added.
'Permits for regular passenger transportation and regular cargo transportation shall have multiple entries, valid for one year and renewable every year subject to a maximum period of five years,' reads the draft agreement, sent to the foreign ministry from Indian High Commission, Dhaka.
The draft said the Indian cargo could stay in the country for seven days, while passenger vehicles between five days and one month. India proposed the transit agreement with Bangladesh initially for five years, which is renewable.
Sources in the foreign affairs and communication ministries said Indian diplomats based in Dhaka were trying to persuade the government into signing the agreement in the upcoming consultation meeting.
'We are not ready now to go for such an agreement. We can at best propose a comprehensive study and consultation involving experts,' said a high official at the communication ministry.
