The Awami League-led government’s ministers and advisers are making contradictory statements on the question of Bangladesh providing transit to India, diplomatic and political observers said on Saturday.
Dhaka on Tuesday told Indian high commissioner that there would be no transit deal if the Teesta water sharing treaty was not signed as planned during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit.
Bangladesh might not sign the 'letter of exchange' regarding transit for India as the Indian government has postponed the Teesta water sharing deal at the last moment.
ow that India and Bangladesh are seeking to establish a more constructive pattern of relationships they are, in a spirit of friendship, seeking to resolve some of the outstanding problems which I have identified earlier.
Instead of agreement, Bangladesh and India will now sign ‘exchange of letter’ agreeing to allow the use of Chittagong and Mongla seaports based on 1972 and ’80’s deals regarding the transit facilities.
India is not willing to pay taxes to Bangladesh for goods' movement from one part of India to another or to a third country through Bangladesh linking the Chittagong and Mongla seaports.
PM’s adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi today said nothing about the proposed transit facility to India would be finalized during the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s visit to Dhaka early next month.
Bangladesh is unlikely to sign with India a framework agreement on transit during Dr Manmohan Singh's Dhaka visit next month, highly placed sources said.
A government panel on transit may suggest charging India, Nepal and Bhutan minimum transit fees between 2.5 cents and 7 cents a tonne for every kilometre of travel depending on the mode of transport.
