DHAKA: Bangladesh is likely to seek financial assistance on capital dredging in the river routes under the “Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade” with neighboring India, sources of foreign ministry confirmed.

The sources also said that Bangladesh will put forward a proposal to its big neighbor for increasing the maintenance charges of those routes.

According to the sources, Bangladesh will place the proposal at a secretary-level meeting between two neighbors, to be held in Indian capital city New Delhi on April 20.

Admitting the issues, a high official of foreign ministry told banglanews that placing a proposal on assistance in capital dredging and increase in regular maintenance charges has been decided.

It will depend on India that how much assistance to be provided. Whether the assistance will come as loan or grant that will be decided through discussion, the official added.

Several issues including transit-transshipment charges, customs charges, and excise duties are likely to formally be discussed at the meeting.

According to the authorities concerned, route maintenance charges provided by India are not sufficient. For this reason, Bangladesh is going to seek more amounts of charges.

Agenda of the three-day meeting will also cover the issue of transit and customs charges for Indian goods transportation via Bangladesh and the issue of import and export tax withdrawal for certain period.

Earlier, an inter-ministerial meeting on the protocol granted permission to transport some 35 thousand tonnes of food crops on humanitarian ground.

The meeting, however, decided that India will need to pay all sorts of charges and fees if they continue transshipments using the protocol routes.

BDST: 1330 HRS, APR 12, 2015
HB/RR/RS