Framework of transit with Nepal, Bhutan being finalized this week

The legal framework for the much-awaited transit from Bangladesh to Nepal and Bhutan is likely to be finalized within this week, in an important leap forward for boosting trade and business on regional plane.
Prime Minister’s Finance Adviser Dr Moshiur Rahman left Dhaka on Sunday morning for Nepal to deal with the transit issue, now that India is agreed on allowing route through strips of their frontier-land. From there he will go to Bhutan to finalize the matter with the other landlocked Himalayan country.
“I will stay in Kathmandu Sunday and Monday and then move to visit Thimphu Tuesday and Wednesday for discussing the matter,” said Dr Moshiur Rahman.
He said he would discuss the transit issue with the Nepalese Prime Minister and other ministers concerned during his tour.
“I will also have talks on the same issue with the top officials of the Bhutanese government during my visit to the country”, he added.
Prime Minister Office sources said India wants to provide transit facility for Bangladesh to link with Nepal and Bhutan before taking transit itself through Bangladesh.
New Delhi has suggested Bangladesh to finalize the formalities with Nepal and Bhutan before India starts construction of a power plant at Palatana in its landlocked northeastern state of Tripura crossing over Bangladesh territories.
In this context, the PM’s adviser undertook the trip to Nepal and Bhutan, a source in the PMO said.
Dr Moshiur said, “Goods-laden trucks of Nepal and Bhutan can use Indian land as these countries have agreement on connectivity issue. But, Bangladesh does not get such facility. Bangladeshi cargo-carrying trucks do not directly enter those countries.”
He added: “Once Bangladesh avails transit facility, importers do not need to change trucks on the border for transporting their goods.”

He said Bangladesh has already given its consent to use of Mongla seaport and provide transshipment facilities to Nepal at the Bangladesh-Nepal secretary-level talks held in July last in Dhaka.
The delineated transit route is Banglabandha-Panchagarh-Thakurgoan-Syedpur-Bogra-Natore-Dashuria-Paksey-Kushtia-Jhenidah-Jessore-Khulna-Mongla.
Dr Moshiur said matters of direct rail and road links would also be discussed in the meetings with Nepalese authorities.
Nepal has already taken preparation to establish rail link with Bangladesh via Rohanpur and Singabad, said the adviser.
“Apart from transit and transshipment issues, we’ll also discuss import of electricity, water management and climate-change issue,” said the prime minister’s emissary.
-Bangla News