Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the steps taken by the Government to improve rail, road and waterways connectivity and trade with Bangladesh;
(b) whether there are many unresolved issues between the two nations;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the details of measures taken to resolve these issues?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) to (d) We have taken various steps to enhance connectivity between India and Bangladesh especially in road, rail and waterways links. Agreement on Coastal Shipping between India and Bangladesh was signed in June 2015 under which direct sea trade between the two countries is facilitated. Services linking Indian and Bangladeshi ports have since commenced. In June 2015, the India Bangladesh Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) and Bilateral Trade Agreement were renewed with automatic extension for five years to facilitate trade further. There are three operational rail links between India and Bangladesh namely Petrapole-Benapole, Gede-Darsana and Singhabad-Rohanpur rail links. Regular direct bus services linking Dhaka, Agartala and Kolkata are running regularly while a new Guwahati-Shillong-Dhaka bus service has also been launched. A new Integrated Check Post has been operationalized at the India Bangladesh land border at Petrapole. These connections are extremely useful in further enhancing trade and connectivity with Bangladesh.
Day to day issues such as trade facilitation as well as other issues involving connectivity and trade are addressed within existing bilateral forums such as Joint Consultative Commission, Joint Group of Customs, Joint Working Group on Trade, Standing Committee on the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade, Inter-Governmental Railway Meeting etc.