Posted by: "Shamim Huq" shamimmhuq
Sun Oct 31, 2010 6:27 pm (PDT)
Dhaka stands to gain from transit facility
Publish Date: Monday,1 November, 2010, at 12:31 PM Doha Time
Bangladesh could reap a profit of $2.3bn in a period of 30 years by giving transit facilities to India, Nepal and Bhutan, a think tank has said.
To earn that profit, Bangladesh would, however, have to invest $1.17bn in capital expenditure, operation and maintenance costs for over 30 years to develop corridors for transit traffic, says the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
Of the amount, $53.74mn and $769mn would be required to set up road and rail links, $79mn and $129mn to upgrade the Chittagong and Mongla ports, and $99mn to operate and maintain them.
Bangladesh and India signed a joint communique in January 2010 creating scope for introducing multi-modal transit and transhipment between the two nations.
After years of nursing reservations that India could gain at its expense, Bangladesh is now preparing the UN-sponsored trans-Asian road and rail network that will link major points in the region.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's pacts with India that allow the trans-Asian linkages have, however, been opposed by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
The CPD study says the transit revenue for Bangladesh would be low in the first five years since many constructions and arrangements would be done during the period. Bangladesh would be able to reap about 10% of the full potential benefit at that time.
"From the sixth year onward, full potential benefits are assumed to be realised," the Daily Star said yesterday.
A team of experts from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan prepared the study report. Rahmatullah, former director of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, led the team.
Bangladesh could gain at least three benefits from transit services, says the study.
Freight charges within Bangladesh's transport network would go down and the country would receive revenue in port charges from international cargo at the Chittagong and Mongla ports. Besides, transit fees to be earned by Bangladesh will be equivalent to 70% of India's transport cost saving, it says.
The study covered 14 corridors - eight road routes, five rail routes and a waterway - for transit traffic between Bhutan, India and Nepal through
Bangladesh. IANS
From: bdmailer@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2010 07:46:21 +0600
Subject: [ALOCHONA] Bangladesh Fooled By Indian Tansit Deal
Bangladesh Fooled By Indian Tansit Deal
Read what Bangla Weeky "Shapathic Budbar" has to say on the whole issue
How Bangladesh is not getting "Transit Tariffs" from Indian goods shipped through Bangladesh roads into India's North east region .The whole arguments presented to the people of Bangladesh by the present Government and section of civil society -like Center For Policy Dialog ( CPD ) was that Bangladesh will earn US $ 800 million to 1 billion annually by allowing Transit Facilities to India , this was to be earned by way tariff on Indian goods shipped through Bangladesh territories into Indian Seven states in North East .
This however is not the case anymore , some key advisors in Prime Minister's office under intense pressure and lobby from Indian high Commission in Dhaka has given in and asked relevant authorities to suspend collecting transit fees on Indian goods shipments through it's territories . The question is ? when even Bangladesh transport vehicles has to pay roads and transport tax to use the country's infrastructure , how in the hell Indian Transports gets away without paying any tariff or fees ,while using Bangladesh infrastructure. The strange and ironic thing is that very few Newspapers and Govt official are protesting or debating this critical & impotent issue .
Read what Bangla Weeky "Shapathic Budbar" has to say on the whole issue ( text is in Bangla )
Here is the Link to the story :
http://budhbar.com/?p=3222http://newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=339488
