India and Bangladesh have signed an agreement to renew the contract for inland water transport which will expire on March 31, 2014, the earlier one having expired on last March 31. The contract was renewed only for two years though India was in favour of three years. The Indian delegation, consisting of eight members, was headed by Mr. P. K. Sinha, Secretary, and Ministry of Shipping. Mr. Abdul Mannan Hawaldar, the Bangladesh counterpart, led the 18-member team. India agreed for the enhancement of fee as it was requested by Bangladesh for maintenance of river routes. From Tk 5.25 to the fee was revised to Tk.10 this year. There were some issues for which decisions could not be reached in the meeting. India’s demand for a long term validation of the river transit and trade and another demand that the transshipment facility at Ashuganj port in Bangladesh be allowed so that goods could be transported to India’s North-East via Akhaura could not get positive response from Bangladesh . Neither India could accede to Bangladesh’s two demands that the present protocol can include coastal services between the two countries and the other being the payment of Customs facilitation fee by India at the rate of USD 8 a tonne.
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