DHAKA: Dhaka and Delhi will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to allow India to use Chittagong and Mongla seaports to ferry goods. The MoU will be signed in Bangladesh-India shipping secretary-level meeting to be held at the secretariat on Wednesday.
Before the meeting, Shipping Secretary Ashok Madhab Roy said: “We have already agreed to give permission to the India to use Chittagong and Mongla seaports but we have not yet fixed the fees for it.” He said: “We will sign the agreement today [Wednesday] but will not discuss fees. It is a vital matter and it will be fixed during the settlement of standard operating procedure (SOP).” He side stepped a question on Bangladesh’s policies about fixing fees, when journalists pointed out that Bangladesh got short end of the stick while deciding fees for Ashuganj port. “I cannot answer the question now as Chittagong and Mongla ports are different issues.” The shipping secretary also said the meeting has nothing to do with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India.
The prime minister is likely to visit her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the third week of this month. He said: “Indian private organisations have shown their interest in investing in the construction of multipurpose container terminal at Payra seaport. A MoU is to be signed between the two countries to increase tourism through waterways. Shipping secretary said: “The tourists from Bangladesh and India will be allowed in coastal and protocol routes between the countries. However, the tourists will not to be allowed to departure from ship.” Indian Shipping Secretary Rajive Kumar will lead a nine-member team at the meeting.
