Desk News
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently signed 10 MoUs with India. It also includes a Memorandum of Understanding on Rail Transit. Both the countries agreed on this during the Prime Minister’s visit to India. As a result, India will get the facility of direct rail transport to the northeastern states using the territory of Bangladesh.
In the first phase, the Haldibari-Dalgao-Hashimara route of India via Gede-Darshana-Chilahati in Bangladesh will be used. The secretary of the Ministry of Railways said that an attempt will be made to run the experimental train on this route in July. Md. Humayun Kabir.
Meanwhile, India is currently not getting transit on the Agartala-Tripura route from Benapole via Tongi due to railway differences. However, Bangladesh has already completed the feasibility study of constructing a dual-gauge railway line on this route. Apart from this, there are no transit plans on other railways including Balurghat-Hili-Gitaldah in India for now.
Bangladesh Railway Director General Sardar Shahadat Ali said, currently there is no opportunity for rail transit from the territory of Bangladesh on any route other than the Darshana-Chilahati route. The Gangesagar-Agartala railway cannot be used for now. Because this route has meter gauge railway from Tongi to Akhaura. And Indian trains are broad gauge. So there is no chance of transit in this way for now.
Meanwhile, the question is also raised whether India is getting unilateral benefits of rail transit. In this regard, the Ministry of Railways said that Bangladesh can also use India’s land for transporting goods to Nepal and Bhutan.
Secretary of the Ministry of Railways. Md. Humayun Kabir said that goods can be transported to Bhutan through the Hasimara route. The MoU covers rail traffic across both countries. It was not done unilaterally. He also commented that the door of regional communication has been opened as a result.
Bangladesh Railway Director General Sardar Shahadat Ali said that Bangladesh has a corridor with Nepal. Import-export of goods with Nepal is ongoing. But there is no corridor with Bhutan. But he also said that the country will be connected to it.
On the other hand, according to the memorandum of understanding, the fee will be determined in the case of transit. Moreover, any goods that can be transported in rail transit will be listed for safety reasons. However, there is also the question of how much Bangladesh will benefit financially.
In this regard, the secretary of the Ministry of Railways. Md. Humayun Kabir said, it is not a matter of profit and loss, but a matter of mutual relationship. Coordination of train timings, list of goods, fixing of fees etc. are yet to be started. Later, the two countries will decide the issues together.
Bangladesh Railway Director General Sardar Shahadat Ali said that both countries can transport goods by rail transit. In this case, one country will pay the fee to the other country. As a result, Bangladesh will benefit. There is no harm here.
According to the Ministry of Railways, Nepal and Bhutan will also get the benefit of this MoU. By connecting to the Trans-Asian route, all SAARC countries will benefit overall.
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