Transit fee fixation ‘unlikely before Singh’s visit’

The finance minister, AMA Muhith, on Wednesday said the transit fee or charge is unlikely to be finalised before Indian prime minister Dr Manhoman Singh's visit of Bangladesh next month.

'I don't think we'll be able to fix the fee ….prior to his (Manmohan) visit. But, we may finalise the principal agreement or framework agreement,' he told reporters at his ministry's conference room after Ukranian agrarian policy food minister Mykola Prysyazhnyuk and then UNFPA executive director Babatunde Osotimehin met him at his office.

Asked about the criticism about the country's benefit from giving the transit facilities, Muhith said it is absolutely nuisance that Bangladesh would not be benefited by giving the transit facilities.

The finance minister said his ministry has made comments on the draft report on finalisation of transit fee submitted by the core committee.

'The report is yet to be finalised. Once finalised, the report will be made public,' he said adding that it might not be possible prior to the Indian prime minister's visit early next month.

He said the experience of Switzerland is being considered in the study on transit and it is also necessary to take the experience of Ukraine.

Mentioning that the estimate of the transit cost is a problem, Muhith said the transit cost is realised everywhere as Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam have given transit facilities.

The finance minister said it would not be possible at the moment to open 16 routes at a time to give transit facilities. 'Instead, 2-3 routes could be opened and the other routes would be opened gradually.'

Muhith said he is looking for the utilisation of the $ 1.0 billion Indian credit assistance prior to the visit of the Indian prime minister.

He said out of the 20 projects identified for the credit, nine projects have so far got the approval and a process is underway for their tendering.

'There'll also be deals on the rest of the projects, may be before the visit or during the visit.'

On transshipment, he said, 'An agreement with fee is more or less there.'

But, considering the growing traffic, he said it should now be fixed on the basis of cargo, weight or the routes (rail and water).

Source : New Age