India to get access again to transport rice

Bangladesh will allow India to use its territory to supply 25,000 tonnes of rice from Kolkata to Tripura, both Indian territories, on humanitarian grounds.

The decision was taken last week at a high level meeting of the shipping ministry and is now awaiting the approval of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Once the prime minister gives the green light, the decision will be conveyed to the neighbouring

country.

The arrangement is akin to the one that allowed India to take 10,000 tonnes of rice in July last year to its north-eastern state of Tripura through Bangladesh.

The move came after India last year wrote in requesting the use of Bangladesh territory to supply 35,000 tonnes of rice to Tripura. The latest transit arrangement would allow India to transport the remaining 25,000 tonnes of rice.

Under the existing shipping protocol, India pays an annual fee to Bangladesh -- and the transit facility would be covered by the fee, said an official of the National Board of Revenue.

The rice will be carried by waterways from Kolkata in India to Ashuganj river port in Bangladesh by Bangladeshi ships. From there, it will reach Agartala through Brahmanbaria and Akhaura land ports in Bangladeshi covered vans.

The official said, by carrying the rice the owners of Bangladeshi ships and covered vans will get another outlet to make money. 

However, part of the road from Ashuganj to Akhaura is in bad shape and is not fit enough for heavy covered vans.

Around Tk 1,700 crore is required for the repair of the road and the government will request India to finance its reconstruction, a shipping ministry official said.

Earlier, during the last tenure of the present government, permission was given to transport heavy equipment for Palatana power plant in India through the Bangladesh territory.