Bangladesh-India to sign MoU on use of Chittagong, Mongla ports

The MoU will be signed during the Bangladesh-India shipping secretary-level meeting

Bangladesh and India will be signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Wednesday which permits New Delhi to use Chittagong and Mongla seaports to ferry goods.

The two Asian neighbours will sign the MoU during the Bangladesh-India shipping secretary-level meeting, which is to be held at the secretariat on Wednesday.

Bangladesh's Shipping Secretary Ashok Madhab Roy, before the meeting, said that they have already given permission to India to use Chittagong and Mongla seaports but have not decided on the fee yet.

"We will sign the agreement today [Wednesday] but will not discuss fees. It is a vital matter and it will be fixed during the settlement of standard operating procedure (SOP)," the Dhaka Tribune quoted Roy, as saying.

Asserting that the meeting has nothing to do with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India, he said she is likely to visit India by the third week of this month.

An MoU will also be signed between the two sides to increase tourism through waterways.

"The tourists from Bangladesh and India will be allowed in coastal and protocol routes between the countries. However, the tourists will not to be allowed to departure from ship," said the shipping secretary.

A nine-member team will be led by the Indian Shipping Secretary Rajive Kumar at the meeting.