India has sought transit facilities to third countries as well as its north-eastern states through 15 road and railway routes and ports in Bangladesh, a report media said here on Monday.
The Financial Express newspaper said India submitted a proposal to Dhaka seeking to use the road, railway and facilities of Bangladesh's Chittagong and Mongla ports to carryout its exports and imports with third countries and transport goods to and from its south-eastern region.
“Seeking access to the territory of Bangladesh and its sea ports for the North-Eastern regions of India, New Delhi has invited Bangladesh government to sign a protocol for a period of seven years for the purpose of transit, corridor and use of two ports,” the paper said quoting senior Foreign ministry officials.
A foreign ministry spokesman here confirmed the report acknowledging the receipt of the proposal through the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, saying it outlined broad characteristics on transit and use of ports.
The paper said the road and rail routes, sought by India in the proposed protocol were – Akhaura-Agartala, Sabroom-Ramgarh, Demagiri-Thegamukh, Bibir Bazar-Srimantpur, Belonia-Belonia, Betuli-Old Raghna Bazar, Chatlapur-Manu, Tamabil-Dawki, Borosora-Borosora, Haluaghat-Ghasuapara, Sonamganj-Shellbazar, Darshanak-Gede, Rohanpur-Singhabad, Birol-Radhikapur and Benapole-Petrapole.
The proposed protocol, it said, also expressed Indian willingness to import and export goods from and to third countries through south-eastern Chittagong and south-western Mongla ports, use warehouse facilities under exempted customs duties.
“Movement of cargo under the protocol shall be exempted from customs duties and other charges except reasonable charges for transportation and such other charges as are commensurate with the cost of services rendered in respect of such movement,” the paper quoted the proposed protocol as saying.
“Transit fees, if any, to be levied will be decided by mutual consent of both governments.”
According to the proposal, Bangladesh customs could not examine any Indian containerised cargo if it is sealed (one-time-lock) but in respect of non-containerised ones, the customs house may make a selective percentage examination of the goods to check if the goods were in accordance with customs declaration.
The report came days after Bangladesh's Tariff Commission submitted for government consideration a set of recommendations on transit facilities for India outlining the proposed modalities and fees.