Getting India Bangladesh relations back on track
The potentially successful result of the trial run can benefit the two nations by enhancing their economic connectivity which is critical for the region as South Asia is one of the world’s least connected regions
By Adithyan Nair
After a frosty interlude in what has traditionally been a warm and good neighbourly relationship, the India Bangladesh relationship seems to be getting back on track.
Soon after the Bangladeshi government announced a one day state mourning on the demise of ‘good friend’ Pranab Mukherji, Indian statesman and former President of the republic, India Bangladesh ties got a fillip following the recent operationalization of the Daukandi – Sonamura Inland Waterway Protocol route.
Bangladeshi vessel MB Premier carrying cement started from Daukandi in Bangladesh on September 03, 2020 and will reach Sonamura in Tripura, India, on September 05, 2020, traversing 93 kms along the river Gumti, announced India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, September 3rd.
This would be the first ever export consignment from Bangladesh to Tripura through the inland waterways. The cargo would be received at Sonamura in the presence of the Chief Minister of Tripura, Shri Biplab Kumar Deb and India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Smt Riva Ganguly Das.
India and Bangladesh had in 1972 signed the Protocol for Inland Water Trade and Transit (PIWTT). The protocol is an agreement between the two governments for the transportation of goods and keeping their respective waterways navigable, while providing infrastructure facilities. The protocol further states that both countries will mutually decide the proposed expenses; voyage permissions shall be taken at least four days prior to the actual journey; and the vessels shall share equal tonnage.
It was initially renewable every two years; however, since October 2001, the renewal was done in a haphazard manner. In June 2015, Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Bangladesh propelled bilateral ties and the two governments renewed the protocol on 6 June 2015. The protocol provides a better connectivity to the North Eastern region of India.
Anurag Shrivastava, spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs at a press briefing announced that “Under this protocol in 2019-2020 about 3.5 MMT of cargo was transported between India and Bangladesh through various protocol routes. There have been about 8 routes until the signing of the second addendum to this protocol, which has added two more routes making it a total of 10 routes. The Sonamura- Daudkandi route is significant because it connects Tripura to the national waterways of India via Bangladesh for the first time.”
This initiative can act as a catalyst for the improving trade relations between the two nations. The potentially successful result of the trial run can benefit the two nations by enhancing their economic connectivity which is critical for the region as South Asia is one of the world’s least connected regions. The Sonamura- Daudkandi route will also significantly improve connectivity within India.
