India wants 'space' in Chittagong port

Chittagong Port । File Image

India has asked for a special place in Chittagong Port to ensure trade and commerce with the North Eastern states of India. The central government of India wants such a facility to strengthen the economy of the northeastern states. Indian Union Minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh informed Bangladesh about this request at the annual session of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in India last Friday. The Press Taste of India (PTI) published a report on Friday revealing this information.

 But the Chittagong Port Authority has not yet received any official proposal in this regard.

Chittagong Port Chairman Rear Admiral M. Shahjahan told,'I heard from you’ (reporter) first. I have not received any official or unofficial proposal in this regard.   

India made the offer at a time when pilot transshipment shipments between the two countries under the India-Bangladesh agreement ended just a week ago. Last shipment took 52 days to send from Chittagong Port to Kolkata only.

Meanwhile, India also offered transit facilities to Bangladesh during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India last September. That is, Bangladesh can transport goods to third countries using Indian sea, land and waterways. However, no agreement has been reached on that proposal yet.

In advanced ports designated areas or yards are kept for smooth transit-transshipment facilities. Where only that product exists. None of the Chittagong and Mongla ports have that dedicated yard yet. Because the trial run is still going on. There will be designated yards when starting at full speed. At Pangaon Port, there is a separate space for India's transit goods arriving by sea. Now the port users are not aware whether the Indian authorities have proposed to keep that space.

FBCCI Standing Committee (Port and Shipping) Co-Chairman Mahfuzul Haque Shah said, Chittagong port has jetty, yard facility to provide transit-transshipment facilities, it has been known as a port for a long time. Now when the transshipment goods transportation starts in full swing, the port authority can reserve the space accordingly.

He said that if Matarbari deep sea port, Payra port and bay terminal are opened, the cargo volume of neighboring countries will definitely increase a lot.

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