India got corridor, not transit: Khaleda

[Zabaniyah]

I am not sure but from what i can guess, she is trying to say that India will be underpaying Bangladesh govt. in the transit issue. There fore the 30 000 crore taka will be "percieved" loss of revenue.

Full implementation of the transit will take at least 6-7 years given that political football doesn't get in the way. And it'll cost billions. We don't know exactly when the whole thing will be completed.

Why are people jumping up and down over something that's not even finished?

We don't know when and how this thing will be implemented.

 

[InFn-0]

Jesus Christ! Full implementation of the transit will take at least 6-7 years given that political football doesn't get in the way. And it'll cost billions. We don't know exactly when the whole thing will be completed.

Why are people jumping up and down over something that's not even finished! And what's this? She pulling random 'facts' from her ***.

Does that woman even read the papers?

Think about how to improve the country's political climate. These people along with the AL are doing popular politics in the long term, coupled with political infighting. Nothing with concrete results.

Bashing "Indian conspiracy with AL" is BNP's weapon of choice to wake their workers. On the other hand AL prefers its "71 er chetona" and "juddho oporadhi and rajakar". IMO both are pointless.

 

[ares]

It seems Bangladeshi internal politics revolves around India. Issues like "relations with India" are a major political factor on who wins or looses the elections which pretty lame by any standards for a country claiming to be sovereign one.

 

[Splurgenxs]

It seems Bangladeshi internal politics revolves around India. Issues like "relations with India" are a major political factor on who wins or looses the elections which pretty lame by any standards for a country claiming to be sovereign one

Thats how Pakistani leaders did it...in there 30-40 odd formative years
the similarities are hard to ignore.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On topic..

When a country is as big as Bangladesh...

Cons:
one should know there realities.
And be wiser when perusing ambitions bigger than oneself

Pros:
No one is scrutinizing ur dealings and the country is left peacefully ..as it dose not signify a greater threat potential.
Economy and social welfare should be the main objective here as military defense is a futile concept either way.

 

[Al-zakir]

When BNP come back in power, Awami Ghaddars will be tried for treason. Giving corridor to India is almost like Bd has become another province of India.

No corridor or transit to enemy.

 

[Spitfighter]

Giving corridor to India is almost like Bd has become another province of India. No corridor or transit to enemy.

One would've hoped you'd learn something after all the time you've spent here. BD cannot grow if it's at odds with India. Supporting terrorists/disregarding Indian security concerns will only invite retaliation. Think about what BD's options are and what India is capable of if it chooses to reciprocate.

Its high time you stop with all this kafir/muslim bullsht. Its because of narrow minded people like yourself that the entire world hates Islam.

 

[idune]

I am not sure but from what i can guess, she is trying to say that India will be underpaying Bangladesh govt. in the transit issue. There fore the 30 000 crore taka will be "percieved" loss of revenue.

30,000 crore taka came because steel mill owners already said they are in danger indian steel products that are being transported using corridor will reenter and destroy 20,000 crore take investment they have made. Not to mention immediate loss of export because of corridor for free or token money.

--------------------------------

Local business men are opposing transit to India

Auto Re-rolling and Steel Mills’ Association, Bangladesh Steel Mill Owners’ Association, and Bangladesh Re-rolling Mills’ Association leaders are furious over the transit issue. They say, they have been exporting their products to seven north eastern states of India in spite of tariff and non tariff and non tariff barrier in Indian market. But the government’s new move to allow India for charge free transit will demolish local industry. The Indian mainland industries are already a threat to local industries.

Local industries are already facing difficulties due to severe energy shortage in the country. They have the capacity of 80 lakh tone, but they are producing only 40 lakh tone. 10 Lakh tone is exported to seven Indian states every year. The association leaders are arguing that if the damage on infrastructure due to transportation of Indian goods and loss of local industries are calculated transit will not be proved as a wise decision.

The association leaders are also alleging that the government didn’t negotiated with the Indian counterpart on duty free access of Bangladesh steel products. They are demanding and immediate halt of transit. They are also threatening to go for movement.

Local business men are opposing transit to India « Business « DHAKA NEWS

 

[CaptainJackSparrow]

When BNP come back in power, Awami Ghaddars will be tried for treason. Giving corridor to India is almost like Bd has become another province of India.

No corridor or transit to enemy.

Only 'almost'?

We failed!

---------- Post added at 04:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:00 AM ----------

It seems Bangladeshi internal politics revolves around India. Issues like "relations with India" are a major political factor on who wins or looses the elections which pretty lame by any standards for a country claiming to be sovereign one.

When you are surrounded by a country from all the four sides.

Share the same culture.


The same language.

Almost everything is the same except religion, by and large.

...and particularly when your neighbor is like Gulliver when you are Lilliputian,

...this is bound to happen.

 

[idune]

Businessmen want end to transit of Indian goods thru Ashuganj

Staff Correspondent

Three associations of steel and re-rolling mills of the country on Monday demanded an immediate halt to transit of Indian goods

using Ashuganj river port to protect the country’s rod and steel industry.

Leaders of the associations at a joint press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity also warned that they would go for a tough movement, if the government did not stop crossing of Indian goods, especially raw materials for rod and steel, through Ashuganj to the seven north-eastern states of India.

‘Indian businesses are transporting ingot and billet, raw materials for producing rod and steel, without any duty through Akhauria using Ashuganj river port to the seven north-eastern states. This has put the local steel and re-rolling mills in threat,’ said Bangladesh Auto Re-Rolling and Steel Mills’ Association chairman SK Masudul Alam Masud.

Leaders of the Bangladesh Auto Re-rolling and Steel Mills’ Association, Bangladesh Steel Mill Owners’ Association, and Bangladesh Re-rolling Mills’ Association were present at the conference.

Masud said local steel and re-rolling mills had for long been demanding duty-free access of Bangladeshi rod and steel products to the land-locked seven Indian states. ‘But, we have yet to receive any result, despite getting assurance from the Bangladesh government that it would pursue the matter with India.’

‘Now, the government is allowing access of Indian steel products to the states without imposing any duty. This is not a level-playing act done by our government,’ he said.

Masud also feared that Indian steel products might flood the Bangladesh market as the production cost of steel and rod in Bangladesh was higher because of gas and energy crisis in the country.

BARSMA secretary general Abul Kashem Majumder said the price of raw materials for rod and steel products in the country had increased significantly. As a result, only around 100 of the 300 local re-rolling mills have managed to remain in operation while the rest had to close down.

According to Abul Kashem, the total investment in the steel and re-rolling industry in the country now stands at around Tk 20,000 crore. The average annual production of the industry is now 40 lakh tonne against the capacity of 80 lakh tonne, while the local demand is for 30 lakh tonne.

‘Even after the reduced production, we can export 10 lakh tonnes of rod and steel. The seven Indian states should be our ideal market because of the low transportation cost,’ he said.

Even if Dhaka gives transit to Indian goods, it should make sure New Delhi gives duty-free access to Bangladesh’s rod and steel products without any non-tariff barriers, he said.

Masud warned that, if the government did not immediately stop transit of Indian goods through Asuganj, they would launch a tough movement, initially organising a sit-in programme at Ashuganj.

Bangladesh Steel Mill Owners’ Association secretary general M Shahjahan and Bangladesh Re-rolling Mills’ Association general secretary Abu Bakar Siddiqui also spoke at the conference.

New Age | Newspaper

 

[fallstuff]

I am curious, does anybody know what her kid is upto ? He set up this idiot Rizvi to sell transit. There gotta be money in it for him.

 

[ramu]

30,000 crore taka came because steel mill owners already said they are in danger indian steel products that are being transported using corridor will reenter and destroy 20,000 crore take investment they have made. Not to mention immediate loss of export because of corridor for free or token money.

--------------------------------

This is perceived danger and not the reality. According to the agreement, the goods transported from one side will have to come out on the other side. [Period]

 

[Baby Leone]

the same kinda transit india is asking from Pakistan while using US and still get nothing but a middle finger frm GoP till they allow us a route to south east

 

[ramu]

the same kinda transit india is asking from Pakistan while using US and still get nothing but a middle finger frm GoP till they allow us a route to south east

Ya right and here is a country that is contemplating to give Most favoured nation status to India.

 

[third eye]

Read article for table of fees, I cannot post pics.

one hopes the roads in BD are worth the proposed charge.

Road transit fees highest

Road transit fees highest

Govt body recommends tariffs on consignments for all three modes of transportation
Rejaul Karim Byron

A government committee has recommended transit fees ranging from $252 to $54,368 to be charged from India, Nepal and Bhutan for each consignment of cargo using road, river and train routes of Bangladesh.

The fees have been calculated on the basis of weight of the cargo, the types of routes to be used and their distance, sources close to the committee said yesterday.

The lowest rate is applicable for using waterways while the highest is for roads.

The fees will vary from 2 cents to 11 cents per tonne and per km depending on which route is being used, said the committee in its report submitted to the government recently.

In addition to the transit fees, the users must pay fuel tax and other surcharge for carrying transit goods, said the committee headed by Tariff Commission Chairman Mujibur Rahman.

The committee was formed last year amid speculations that Dhaka and New Delhi will sign a transit deal during Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Bangladesh (that took place last month). Dhaka refused to sign the road transit agreement after India backed out from signing the much-expected accord on sharing the Teesta river water.

Since then, India has transhipped steel and construction materials to Agartala through Ashuganj river port under the existing river transit protocol without paying any transit fees. The government called it a trial run responding to concern that Bangladesh is losing revenue due to a weak policy.

Commerce ministry officials said the government will negotiate the transit fees with India and other possible users following the committee report.

Eleven types of fees have been calculated in fixing the total charges. Customs and land port charge and foreign vehicle entry fees will remain fixed, said the report.

Certain charges common for all cargo such as sea and land port charges, bridge tolls, have not been included in calculating transit fees, it said.

Transit operators will have to pay these charges separately as applicable to all non-transit operators. Besides, transit operators will have to pay fuel tax equivalent and provide bank guarantee and insurance premium.

The report further said fuel, especially diesel, is heavily subsidised in Bangladesh. The amount of subsidy for diesel is almost 40 percent of its market rice. It is, therefore, necessary to realise the market price of fuel from transit operators of all the three modes of communications -- roadways, waterways and railways.

A smooth mechanism towards realising the same may be worked out to ensure equivalence of fuel price in respect of all transit operators, local and foreign, the committee said.

In addition to charges, transit operators must have insurance against accidents and goods. They also have to provide bank guarantee for covering customs duties and other taxes.

The report mentioned elaborately the economic benefits and risks involved in providing transit facilities.

Apart from various charges, some service sectors like transportation, banking, insurance, restaurants etc are also expected to earn good revenue. Utilisation of the spare capacity of Chittagong and Mongla seaports will also be a good source of earning.

Since all investments and costs of service will be recovered with reasonable return on capital, direct cost to Bangladesh may be nominal in the long run.

However, how long it will take to recover those costs will depend on the volume of transit cargo and number of vehicles. A clear estimation at this stage is highly implausible.

The report said in case the expected volume of cargo movement is not there, then repayment of investment costs, if financed under borrowing from international agencies, will put Bangladesh at a risk.

If the investment is financed by the government, the opportunity cost to Bangladesh may also be very high. Therefore, the issue needs to be very carefully examined, it said.

 

[jayron]

Bangladeshis should find better, more dignified ways of making their country a Singapore than endlessly ranting about transit trade and earning by doing nothing. Seriously, is this the most important economic news in your country?