India proposes new railway, seaport links with Bangladesh

Anisur Rahman

Dhaka, May 7 (PTI) Proposing new railway and seaport
links with Bangladesh, India has said "constructive talks" on
the long-pending transit issue could be resumed once the next
government takes over in New Delhi and argued that enhanced
connectivity will bring "huge financial gains" to Dhaka.

"Transportation of goods through railway is cheaper than
any other modes of transport," Indian High Commissioner in
Dhaka Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty told reporters after a meeting
with Commerce Minister Faruq Khan here Wednesday night.

Chakravarty suggested establishment of a new railway
connection between Akhaura in central Bangladesh and Agartala
in Tripura for enhanced trade and said that "constructive"
talks on connectivity or transit could resume after a new
government takes office in India.

"Everybody now acknowledges that connectivity is
necessary. If Bangladesh offers its roads and Chittagong Port
for regional use, money will not be a problem for building
required infrastructures," he said.

He said New Delhi would like to see the upgrading of the
northeastern Chittagong Port as well as southwestern Mongla
Port so India could use these to transport its goods to
northeastern states. "There are many institutions to provide
funding for upgrading the ports."

The Indian envoy emphasised the importance of "political
will" in making the longstanding proposal for providing
transit through Bangladesh territory that, as he argued, would
fetch "huge financial gains" for Dhaka.

Referring to study reports, he said Bangladesh could earn
revenue between USD 1.5 billion and USD 2 billion for
providing Chittagong Port for regional use.

The envoy also suggested launching of small border trade
of small items between designated frontier village 'huts' on
pilot project basis under the supervision of BDR and BSF.

"This trading system could be started as pilot projects
at different frontier points to see how it works," Chakravarty
said.

A commerce ministry spokesman later said the Minister
told the envoy that Dhaka has "no problem in having trade
deficit with India. What matters is the arrangement for
increasing trade beneficial to both the sides". PTI AR
DEP