B'desh allows transshipment of Indian goods on trial basis

Dhaka, Oct 5 (PTI) Bangladesh has allowed transshipment
of Indian goods from its northeastern areas on trial basis in
line with a bilateral agreement, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni
has said.
"Three cargo ships - two Bangladeshi and one Indian - are
now anchored at Ashuganj river port and the fourth ship is
sailing towards Ashuganj from Kolkata port," she said.
She said road, railway and water transit between the two
countries were already there in the existing agreements signed
in 1972 and 1980, and renewed over the years.
In November last year, India and Bangladesh signed a
crucial deal to allow Indian heavy equipment be transshipped
to its landlocked northeastern Tripura state for a proposed
power plant through Bangladeshi territory.
Roads & Highways chief engineer Azizur Rahman and India's
Oil and Natural gas Corporation's senior adviser R K Madan
signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which would allow
India to transport heavy equipment for its proposed Palatana
Power Plant in Tripura in 96 consignments through Bangladesh.
Asked about the likelhood of a bilateral agreement on
water sharing of Teesta River and exchange of letters on
transit facilities, the Foreign Minister said both will be
done in the future.
"(But) I cannot give specific time and date as I’m not an
astrologer," she said on Tuesday.