Strengthening Connectivity: The Focus of Bangladesh-Nepal Relation

 

Dr. Banshidhar Mishra

 

Nepal and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh enjoy close and cordial bilateral relations marked by goodwill, mutual understanding and cooperation ever since the rise of Bangladesh as a Nation in 1971 and establishment of diplomatic relations on 08 April, 1972.  Geographically, Nepal and Bangladesh are separated by a mere 27 kilometers long stretch, popularly known as chicken neck or Siliguri corridor which belongs to West Bengal, India. Nepal and Bangladesh have similar views on the issues of common interests and work closely at regional and multilateral forums. Both the countries share similar socio-cultural values and aspirations and face similar development challenges. The Government & the people of Nepal admire the impressive progress made by Bangladesh in recent years.

Trade and Transit Agreements

The formal proceedings of connectivity between Nepal and Bangladesh can be traced back to the Trade and Transit Agreements signed in April 1976, which was signed with a motive of promoting and strengthening the trade, transit and economic co-operation among the two nations. Similarly six places were approved for the movement of ‘traffic-in-transit’ using any means of transport for third country trade under mutually agreed transit facilities - the ports of Mongla and Chittagong, the Bangladeshi-Indian borders at Biral, Chilhati, Benapole and Banglabandha. Despite of approval from Bangladesh, to reach Bangladesh, Nepal has to pass through the Siliguri Corridor for the shortest, regarding which; Indian cooperation is equally important.

 Now India has allowed road connection from Phulwari border (Indian border with Banglabandha of Bangladesh) up to Kakarvita-Panitanki (Nepal-India Border) which is just 37 km four lane road (Indian part of the Asian highway). Another 55 km passing has also been provided through Bagdogra and Ghosepukur. Amid the skepticism displayed by the Indian side regarding the use of their land for bilateral trade a joint communique was signed during PM Sheikh Hasina’s India visit in 2010. Wherein, the article 23 of the communiqué clearly demonstrates the positive intention of Bangladesh to provide her sea ports at Mongla and Chittagong for the use of Nepal. The Prime Ministers also agreed in article 26 that Rohanpur–Singabad broad gauge railway link would be available for transit to Nepal. Nonetheless, the train service has not been implemented and most of the transportation occurs through the Phulbari-Banglabandha route by trucks.

Despite having tremendous potentials for trade, investment and joint economic collaboration between the two countries, the lack of proper connectivity, insufficient infrastructures at the border points, lack of proper initiatives of the private sectors, presence of non-tariff barriers etc. are impediments to realize the potentials.

 

The table below reveals the bilateral trade between Nepal and Bangladesh for the last 10 years:

 

 

Hence, the development of seamless connectivity between two nations, would create conducive environment for creating benefit for the people of both of the nations. However, as of present, the prospect of connectivity is yet to receiving significant progress, where the situation demands measures at diplomatic and political platforms, both bilaterally and trilaterally, to make the most out of the relation which began right with the formation of modern Bangladesh.

Four Area of Connectivity:

Bangladesh and Nepal are connected by Road, Rail, Air and Inland water through Indian teritory so need to have trilateral talks and agreements to make them effective and seamless. Here I have tried to mention the existng situation and way forward about all of those potential area.

 

·         Road Connectivity: This is the most important, easy and convenient  rout if managed properly. Like Bangladesh Nepal is connected with India from three dimentions south, east and west thus having easy access to approach their closest Bangladesh - India border points travelling through India from any where from Indo-Nepal open borde.  However Kakadbhitta (NEPAL) – Phulbari (India) – Banglabandh (Bangladesh) is the shortest as mentioned above. Since Nepali and Indian citizens do not neede visa to travell each other’s countries, it has become a-bit easier to enter into  Bangladesh for Nepali citizens having valid visa of Bangladesh . Practically, about four thosands Nepali students studying in Bangladesh (mostly medical) are utilizing some of the entry points having immigration offices at India and Bangladesh sides according to the location of their respective colleges. For Bangladeshi citizens the situation is little different they need visa to travel in or through India and also Nepal. Nepal has arranged to provide free visa on arrival for Bangladeshi citizens at land entry points also (Bangladesh is yet to reciprocate) but they need to have Indian transit visa to cross the indian border to enter Nepal and their multiple entry Indian visa are only valid for flying through India to Nepal or any where and are cancelled if asked for transit visa to travel by land. This is a hassle to be resolved.

However Bangladesh India Nepal are moving forward  to conclude a BBIN Motor Vehicle Agrreement comprising Passenger Motor Vehicle Agreement and Cargo Motor Vehicle Agreement accompanying Bhutan as observer.

 

Representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) met in New Delhi, India, on 8 February 2020 to discuss passenger and cargo protocols and push for the finalization of the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA). The passenger and cargo protocols were first signed on 15 June 2015 in Thimphu Bhutan. Bangladesh, India, and Nepal plan to launch the BBIN MVA, while Bhutan is working on domestic procedures for the ratification of the agreement. Representatives from Bhutan participated in the meeting as observers. The country delegations affirmed the importance of trade, economic cooperation, and people-to-people contact through enhanced regional connectivity, including through regional cross-border road transport. It has created a new hope to link important cities of these three countries by regular Bus service and personal motor vehicles once concluded.

·         Railway Connectivity

 

From economic point of view, transportation from train is considered second cheapest with first being that of ships. Two routes have been existing and agreed after broad-gauge updating as the rail link between Nepal and Bangladesh. The first one is Rohonpur- Biral (Pashchimbangal India) - Radhikapur (Pashchimbangal India) - Roxol (Bihar, India) - Birgunj (Nepal).The broad gauge Rohanpur-Singabad railway link is connected up to the Indian border near Birgunj and Biratnagar– the financial hubs of Nepal with paramount significance from administrative point of view. A railway link of Mongla with the national railway line of Bangladesh in Khulna is scheduled to be completed within 2021.The prospect of Mongla-Khulna-Rohanpur-Katihar (India)-Biratnagar (Nepal) link can deliver win-win situation for all the involved parties, India can earn through rail charges and transit charges while Bangladesh can benefit from port charges and Nepal will benefit in its trade with and through Bangladesh. There are at least five railway links between India and Bangladesh, however, Rohanpur -Singhabad line is most feasible if we take distance ( 217 Km from Bangladesh to Biratnagar Nepal)  and type of line into consideration. A report published by Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board (NITDB) in 2006 found that the transportation cost per metric ton with train from Khulna up to Jogbani (near Biratnagar) was three times less than that using trucks. Similarly, the cost per metric ton from Kolkata to Jogbani by train was about half of that by trucks. Comparing the distance Kolkata-Biratnagar is 600 km whereas Khulna-Biratnagar is 561 km. The possibility of the third and closest railway route has been neared by the Bangladesh Government initiation to extend broad-guaze railway line from Panchgadh  up to Banglabandha the nearest and most used land port for Nepal.

The development of Railway connectivity between Nepal and Bangladesh can be beneficial for both the nations in various dimensions. Although Bangladesh is a major trade partner of China in South Asia, the transport options are either costly air shipments or long sea routes. China targets to construct railway from Xigatse up to Kerung which is just twenty-five kilometers away from Nepali border at Rasuwa. Railway lines have already been constructed from Central China up to Xigatse and the construction up to Kerung is projected to be completed within 2025. The completion of the project would provide a convenient and cheap transportation solution between Nepal and China. With a railway connection between Nepal and Bangladesh, and Nepal and China, a land connection between China and Bangladesh seems to be possible. Nepal has the most convenient passages between Tibet and Indian subcontinent. If political agreement can be settled upon, Bangladesh can benefit very highly from such connections.

·         Airways Connectivity

The first bilateral Air Service Agreement (ASA) was signed between Bangladesh and Nepal in 1976 which aimed at promoting national carriers of the respective countries. The agreement decided the number of flights per week to be seven and number of seats to be limited at less than 40,000 per year for each side. In 2005 another MOU on ASA was signed, which dictates, besides National carrier, a permission for private airplanes to make flights with number of seats increased up to 3500 a week. Similarly, Chittagong airport was allowed to be used by Nepali airplanes whereas a second international airport, if built in Nepal, would be allowed for Bangladeshi airplanes.  Date for a meeting between our two countries is being finalized shortly to update ASA.

Daily two flights one by Biman Bangladesh and one by Himalaya Airlines (Nepali airlines) were operating Kathmandu- Dhaka – Kathmandu route before covid -19 pandemic (before March 26, 2020) and now have resumed schedule flights as twice a week from February 18, 2021. In the meantime extension of the flights up to Chittagong and Sylhet of Bangladesh and introduction of a new route as Shaidpur (Bangladesh) – Biratnagar/ Bhadrapur (Nepal) are under bilateral consideration to enhance air connectivity between both countries.

 

The number of Bangladeshi tourists visiting foreign countries has been reported to be a million every year. Most of them visit India, Malaysia and Thailand and the number of tourists visiting Nepal has an increasing trend (except few exceptions due to earthquake in 2015). But the tourists visiting Bangladesh is only about one hundred thousand in a year and very few Nepalese visit Bangladesh for tourism purpose. If enough promotion is done in both the countries, it is certain that each of them can attract tourists, which would demand an increase in bilateral aviation and connectivity through air. Moreover, both of the countries have even agreed upon a tourist package which says “from tallest pick to the longest beach” and Himalaya to Bay of Bengal to capitalize the potentiality this region carries.

·         Inland water connectivity:

All the rivers of Nepal flow south to meet the only river Ganges of India whose major distributary (bifurcated after Farakka Dam in India) enters Bangladesh as Padma or Podda  in Rajshahi, flows south east  to make confluence with a major river Jamuna (Brahamputa)  at Aichaghat and with another major river Meghna near Chandpur to end its journey to Bay of Bengal after 120 Km in Bangladesh. Three major rivers of Nepal namely Koshi, Gandakee and Karnali (called Sharda in India) are having potentials to carry light vessels all the way to Bangladesh through Padma via Gangase of India . Nepal has sent a concept letter to Bangladesh Government with maps and drawings for further consideration.

 

Port Facilities

 

Khulna, being the third-largest city in Bangladesh, is very near to the port of Mongla– one of the four major ports of Ganges delta, is under-utilized. Moreover, Bangladesh has allowed the use of her Mongla port to India, Nepal and Bhutan; the port facility in which all three courtiers are keenly interested which could make the port as regional port of South Asia.

 As Mongla port is under-utilized, there is enough space for approaching ships and storage of cargo. It must be the reason why the cost of holding goods in Mongla port is lower as compared to other ports of the region. Moreover, government of Bangladesh has announced a 50 percent discount on port charges for Nepal’s trade which adds to enormous advantage for Nepali side. As per present, all of Nepal’s third country traffic moves from Kolkata port where they face congestion which makes service slower in Kolkata.

Besides, inland water connection can be utilized for the transportation of goods from or through Bangladeshi ports through existing river connectivity up to the closest points of Nepali border or to a train station connecting the rail route to Nepal through India. Currently this route is being used to transport Fertilizers from and through Bangladesh from Chittagong port via Nuapara , Khulna  (Bangladesh) then through Indian Railway to Birgunj , Nepal.

 

Conclusion:

Huge potentials are waiting to be realized for the prospect of connectivity between Bangladesh and Nepal, political and diplomatic measures have been seen to be effective for alleviation of existing impediments on the way. The measures can be of bilateral or multilateral in nature. Multilateral measures such as that of BBIN/MVA provides a propitious prospect where both of these nations can find benefits, mutually, through development of connectivity in various dimensions. Nepal has been in support of Bangladesh from the time when Bangladesh was formed and Bangladesh has also been very supportive in every crisis that Nepal faces. An improved connectivity between these nations certainly demonstrates a promising prospect.

 

Long live Bangladesh - Nepal Friendship.

 

Dr. Banshidhar Mishra, Ambassador of Nepal to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Earlier the Ambassador was the State Minister and Member of Parliament of Nepal.