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Agartala, Sep 05, 2011 : Much hyped visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Dhaka and agreements slated to be signed there would not bring any 'immediate' benefit for Tripura which was eagerly awaiting transit facilities through Bangladesh and access to Chittagong Port. None of the two would be included in the agreements ready to be signed in Dhaka. Only issues that are directly linked with Tripura to be included in agreement and protocol-are Feni water sharing and Muhurir char stalemate.
According to Bangladesh media reports, during Prime Minister’s visit three agreements relating to Teesta, Feni water sharing and purchase of 500 mw power from India from 2012 would be signed. Added to it would be two protocols on land boundaries and tiger protection. Five MoU that would be on card include Sundarban preservation, renewable energy, cooperation between BTV and DD stations, fishery development and cooperation between Dhaka University and JNU. On trade, India would allow duty-free access of 61 major Bangladeshi items to Indian market.
For Tripura, the two most important agenda were transit facility through Bangladesh and opening of this land locked state to Chittagong port – which is located only 75 kms from Sabrum-for transhipment.
But now, it was decided that on the two issues- 'transit' and 'Chittagong Port' -both the countries would exchange a 'Letter' during PM's visit to Dhaka. This would entail once again a long diplomatic and official process which might even take several years. Following the 'Letter exchange' both New Delhi and Bangladesh would have to put in place legal instruments including protocol, SOP etc.
In other words, the matter would be sent to back burner again.
It was evident that Dhaka sought to sit on the transit issue in view of huge uproar in Bangladesh following Sheikh Hasina government’s decision to exempt India from any transit fee. According to International norms no country through which transit is given can impose customs or excise duties on goods on transit, but it can impose administrative fees. Bangladesh government, however, hit the hornet’s nest when they indicated that they would not ask for transit fees as it would be ‘uncivilized’ for a neighboring country. This decision led to wild reaction among a section of Bangladeshi intelligentsia who cited example of Egypt that had imposed heavy fees on goods passing through Suez and earned millions of dollars.
Bangladesh would go to polls in 2014 and Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League naturally would not like to trigger any controversy which could be translated as ‘anti-national’ for them. Given the political situation it can now only be hoped that the core committee of Bangladesh that would look into the matter would hasten the process and give the facility to India at the earliest- at least before 2014. Even if some sorts of fees were to be imposed, it would be a welcome step.
But in regard to Chittagong, neither Bangladesh officials nor media gave any indication as to why it was not being opened to Tripura.
There is a feeling that even if Dhaka ultimately allows Transit facility it is highly unlikely that they would give India access to Chittagong Port in near future. It has a different geo-strategic implication which is not being discussed in open forum.
It relates directly to Bangladesh’s overt tilt towards China.
China has already emerged as bigger trading partner in Bangladesh and there are indications that Beijing would develop Chittagong port and Sonadia Deep sea port, 7 kms off Cox’s Bazar there.
‘We sought support from China to build Sonadia deep-sea port and Chittagong-Kunming Highway via Myanmar. Beijing has assured us of support in this regard,’ Dr. Hasan Mahmud, the State Minister for Environment and Forests had said in 2010.
Apart from port development in Chittagong adjoining Tripura, a 900 kms tri-national highway from Kunming in Chittagong via Myanmar is already on the card. Last year, Myanmar also gave go ahead for the Kunming to Chittagong highway via its territory. Chittagong port handles about 92 per cent of Bangladesh’s import-export trade and China coming to Chittagong with highway would only mean easy transportation of Chinese goods, and in cases military hardware, to Bangladesh as well as a quantum jump to Sino Bangla trade.
It must be remembered that in the Indo-Bangla accord signed during Sheikh Hasina’s New Delhi visit last year, Bangladesh gave access to Ashuganj river port to Tripura for transshipment and transportation of Over Dimensional Cargos for Palatana power project being set up in South Tripura. But the access was Palatana Power project specific and there was no commitment on Chittagong port use.
Two months later in March 2010, Sheikh Hasina went to China and both the countries discussed Beijing developing the Chittagong port.
For China, Chittagong port and Sonadia deep sea port would only add to Beijing’s blue water strategy -‘String of Pearls’- that already had Gwador in Pakistan, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Kyakpiu in Myanmar, besides its reported presence in Hanggyi and Coco-Islands under its wings. On the other hand, Chinese presence in next door would have serious geo-strategic concern for India.
Besides, according to media reports Chinese energy consortium, Sinopec Shengli Oilfield Services, has already partnered with Bangladeshi state-owned firm Bapex, to explore four gas fields in the Chittagong Hill Tracts which is astride South and North Tripura districts.
China is also helping Bangladesh in some critical infrastructure development including nuclear power plant. Only on 9 June last, Dhaka signed a loan agreement worth US$211 million with the Export-Import Bank of China to upgrade the Bangladesh’s telecommunications network.
One year ago China and Bangladesh also signed agreements for Beijing’s financial assistance and expertise to support Dhaka to launch their first space satellite. China also pledged help Dhaka to build the 600-1000 MW Pabna nuclear power plant with a US$1.5 billion Chinese loan at concession, besides, development of Pagla water treatment plant and Shahjalal fertilizer factory. They would also construct seven important bridges for them.
Chinese trades and cooperation in Bangladesh had showed a steady upward turn since 2007. According to Bangladesh Board of Investment, till late 2010 as many as 55 Chinese businesses houses submitted 186 investment proposals in the infrastructure and trades that might touch around US$320 million.
India stands virtually nowhere relating to her support for Bangladesh. If the indications are anything then New Delhi would allow free access of 61 Bangladeshi items –out of 64 that were requested by Dhaka- to Indian market, build some infrastructures with soft credit lines. And significantly there is no evident geo-strategic component in the agenda that two countries would be discussing in Dhaka for the next two or three days. And that too keeping in mind imminent Chinese presence in Chittagong Port, and Chittagong Hill Tracts (oil exploration) etc.
Agartala, Sep 05, 2011 : Much hyped visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Dhaka and agreements slated to be signed there would not bring any 'immediate' benefit for Tripura which was eagerly awaiting transit facilities through Bangladesh and access to Chittagong Port. None of the two would be included in the agreements ready to be signed in Dhaka. Only issues that are directly linked with Tripura to be included in agreement and protocol-are Feni water sharing and Muhurir char stalemate.
According to Bangladesh media reports, during Prime Minister’s visit three agreements relating to Teesta, Feni water sharing and purchase of 500 mw power from India from 2012 would be signed. Added to it would be two protocols on land boundaries and tiger protection. Five MoU that would be on card include Sundarban preservation, renewable energy, cooperation between BTV and DD stations, fishery development and cooperation between Dhaka University and JNU. On trade, India would allow duty-free access of 61 major Bangladeshi items to Indian market.
For Tripura, the two most important agenda were transit facility through Bangladesh and opening of this land locked state to Chittagong port – which is located only 75 kms from Sabrum-for transhipment.
But now, it was decided that on the two issues- 'transit' and 'Chittagong Port' -both the countries would exchange a 'Letter' during PM's visit to Dhaka. This would entail once again a long diplomatic and official process which might even take several years. Following the 'Letter exchange' both New Delhi and Bangladesh would have to put in place legal instruments including protocol, SOP etc.
In other words, the matter would be sent to back burner again.
It was evident that Dhaka sought to sit on the transit issue in view of huge uproar in Bangladesh following Sheikh Hasina government’s decision to exempt India from any transit fee. According to International norms no country through which transit is given can impose customs or excise duties on goods on transit, but it can impose administrative fees. Bangladesh government, however, hit the hornet’s nest when they indicated that they would not ask for transit fees as it would be ‘uncivilized’ for a neighboring country. This decision led to wild reaction among a section of Bangladeshi intelligentsia who cited example of Egypt that had imposed heavy fees on goods passing through Suez and earned millions of dollars.
Bangladesh would go to polls in 2014 and Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League naturally would not like to trigger any controversy which could be translated as ‘anti-national’ for them. Given the political situation it can now only be hoped that the core committee of Bangladesh that would look into the matter would hasten the process and give the facility to India at the earliest- at least before 2014. Even if some sorts of fees were to be imposed, it would be a welcome step.
But in regard to Chittagong, neither Bangladesh officials nor media gave any indication as to why it was not being opened to Tripura.
There is a feeling that even if Dhaka ultimately allows Transit facility it is highly unlikely that they would give India access to Chittagong Port in near future. It has a different geo-strategic implication which is not being discussed in open forum.
It relates directly to Bangladesh’s overt tilt towards China.
China has already emerged as bigger trading partner in Bangladesh and there are indications that Beijing would develop Chittagong port and Sonadia Deep sea port, 7 kms off Cox’s Bazar there.
‘We sought support from China to build Sonadia deep-sea port and Chittagong-Kunming Highway via Myanmar. Beijing has assured us of support in this regard,’ Dr. Hasan Mahmud, the State Minister for Environment and Forests had said in 2010.
Apart from port development in Chittagong adjoining Tripura, a 900 kms tri-national highway from Kunming in Chittagong via Myanmar is already on the card. Last year, Myanmar also gave go ahead for the Kunming to Chittagong highway via its territory. Chittagong port handles about 92 per cent of Bangladesh’s import-export trade and China coming to Chittagong with highway would only mean easy transportation of Chinese goods, and in cases military hardware, to Bangladesh as well as a quantum jump to Sino Bangla trade.
It must be remembered that in the Indo-Bangla accord signed during Sheikh Hasina’s New Delhi visit last year, Bangladesh gave access to Ashuganj river port to Tripura for transshipment and transportation of Over Dimensional Cargos for Palatana power project being set up in South Tripura. But the access was Palatana Power project specific and there was no commitment on Chittagong port use.
Two months later in March 2010, Sheikh Hasina went to China and both the countries discussed Beijing developing the Chittagong port.
For China, Chittagong port and Sonadia deep sea port would only add to Beijing’s blue water strategy -‘String of Pearls’- that already had Gwador in Pakistan, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Kyakpiu in Myanmar, besides its reported presence in Hanggyi and Coco-Islands under its wings. On the other hand, Chinese presence in next door would have serious geo-strategic concern for India.
Besides, according to media reports Chinese energy consortium, Sinopec Shengli Oilfield Services, has already partnered with Bangladeshi state-owned firm Bapex, to explore four gas fields in the Chittagong Hill Tracts which is astride South and North Tripura districts.
China is also helping Bangladesh in some critical infrastructure development including nuclear power plant. Only on 9 June last, Dhaka signed a loan agreement worth US$211 million with the Export-Import Bank of China to upgrade the Bangladesh’s telecommunications network.
One year ago China and Bangladesh also signed agreements for Beijing’s financial assistance and expertise to support Dhaka to launch their first space satellite. China also pledged help Dhaka to build the 600-1000 MW Pabna nuclear power plant with a US$1.5 billion Chinese loan at concession, besides, development of Pagla water treatment plant and Shahjalal fertilizer factory. They would also construct seven important bridges for them.
Chinese trades and cooperation in Bangladesh had showed a steady upward turn since 2007. According to Bangladesh Board of Investment, till late 2010 as many as 55 Chinese businesses houses submitted 186 investment proposals in the infrastructure and trades that might touch around US$320 million.
India stands virtually nowhere relating to her support for Bangladesh. If the indications are anything then New Delhi would allow free access of 61 Bangladeshi items –out of 64 that were requested by Dhaka- to Indian market, build some infrastructures with soft credit lines. And significantly there is no evident geo-strategic component in the agenda that two countries would be discussing in Dhaka for the next two or three days. And that too keeping in mind imminent Chinese presence in Chittagong Port, and Chittagong Hill Tracts (oil exploration) etc.
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