Remarks by High Commissioner of India in Bangladesh, Mr. Harsh Vardhan
Shringla at the Seminar on ‘Enhancing Indo-Bangla Waterways Connectivity’,
Organized by the India Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IBCCI) ,
November 02, 2016

• His Excellency, the Commerce Minister of Bangladesh, Mr. Tofail Ahmed
• President of the India Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mr. Taskeen Ahmed
• Distinguished speakers (Ambassador Tariq Ahmed Karim, Mr. Ranjit Barthakur, Prof. Syed Munir Khasru, Syed Monowar Hussain, Mr. Mahbub Uddin Ahmed)
• Ladies and gentlemen 

Connectivity

• Connectivity through the inland waterways and coastal shipping is an important part of our objective to create multi-modal transport links between India and Bangladesh. 

Protocol on Inland Waterways Trade and Transit (PIWTT)

• Inland Waterways hold great potential for boosting bilateral trade and transit, and for relieving the pressure on our land ports. For facilitating trade and transit through the inland waterways, India and Bangladesh have a Protocol on Inland Waterways Trade and Transit (PIWTT) that has been operational since 1972. The PIWTT was renewed for a period of five years with provision for auto renewal during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh in June 2015.
• PIWTT permits movement of goods over barges/vessels through the river systems of Bangladesh on eight specific routes between points in India and Bangladesh, and between points in India through Bangladesh.
• According to the traffic statistics maintained by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), the quantity of goods transported via the protocol routes has seen a more than twenty fold increase since 2001-02. It may be mentioned here that nearly 99% of the cargo is carried by the Bangladesh vessels.
• The transshipment of goods to Northeastern states under PIWTT through Ashuganj river port (and from there to Akhaura-Agartala by road) has also commenced in June 2016. According to BIWTA, till date three transshipment cargos have been sent to Tripura under this arrangement.
• We have also taken measures to facilitate the easy movement of seamen on the PIWTT routes. Crew members of Bangladesh vessels can avail of 72 hour shore leave without visa on the basis of valid passports and proof of employment. 

Establishment of Ashuganj ICP and the Road from Ashuganj to Akhaura

• In order to strengthen the infrastructure and facilitate waterways connectivity, India in partnership with Bangladesh is investing in establishing an Inland Container Port (ICP) at Ashuganj, and in widening the existing road between Akhaura Land Port and Ashuganj to 4 lanes. These two projects are being implemented under the second LoC of 2 billion dollars to Bangladesh, and their early completion is subject to the acquisition of land by the concerned Bangladesh authorities. According to WAPCOS, the agency which is in charge of preparing the DPR for Ashuganj ICP, the construction of the ICP will be finished in two years after the site is handed over to the contractor.
• India has suggested to Bangladesh that the Pangaon ICP may be included as a port of call under the PIWTT. This may be used as an interim measure till the Ashuganj ICP is completed. 

Dredging and Maintenance of Protocol Routes

• There is a need for dredging the protocol routes to utilize their full potential. India currently provides Bangladesh with an amount of BDT 10 crores annually for maintenance of specific stretches of the protocol routes. The possibility of development of the entire protocol routes (with assured Least Available Depth) with international funding is also being explored. In addition, India stands ready to work with Bangladesh for dredging any other sections or routes necessary to facilitate smooth use of inland waterways between our two countries. 

Coastal Shipping Agreement

• A significant development in connectivity has been the beginning of the direct sea movement of containerized/bulk/dry cargo between the two countries pursuant to the MoU on Coastal Shipping signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit last year. It has reduced the shipping time between India and Bangladesh from 30-40 days to 7-10 days and has the potential to emerge as an economical mode of transportation for the traders/business communities on both sides. It would also decongest roads and Land Custom Stations through which most of the trade is taking place now. The first cargo ship under this framework sailed from Chittagong to Vishakhapatnam in March this year. 

MoU on the Use of Chittagong and Mongla Ports

• Both sides are also working on finalizing the Standard Operating Procedure for operationalizing the MoU on the use of Chittagong and Mongla ports for movement of goods to and from India, which was signed during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh last year. 

Jal Marg Vikas Project

• Government of India has launched a ‘Jal Marg Vikas’ project on river Ganga to develop a fairway with three meters depth, which would enable commercial navigation of at least 1500 ton vessels on the river. Construction of multi modal terminals, jetties, river information system, channel marking, navigational lock, river training and conservancy works are to be undertaken as part of the project. The project is being implemented with technical and investment support from World Bank and would be completed over a period of six years at an estimated cost of around USD 630 million.
• We would be happy to work with Bangladesh in undertaking similar projects to develop common rivers for facilitating movement through the inland waterways.