The discussion over the plan for establishing rail connectivity comprising four south Asian countries Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan is under way. The World Bank will assist in implementing the plan. Upon completion, the project will turn into such a rail connectivity system, where there will be no barrier of border in passenger and goods transportation. Then, the transport of goods and passengers from one country to another will be possible like the European counties.
The UK-based service company Deloitte has been working as the medium with Bangladesh government regarding implementation of the cross border rail connectivity project proposed by the World Bank. The representative team of the company has sent letter showing interest to talk to the government on this issue.
"We are undertaking a project for the World Bank focusing on developing a roadmap for cross-border rail services in South-East Asia, particularly in the the BBIN (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan) region," said Rushav Shah, senior consultant at Deloitte, in a recent letter to the Ministry of Commerce. The letter also informed that inter-regional trade will expand further if this borderless railway service of the World Bank is launched. The company's delegation has expressed interest in discussing the matter with the Ministry of Finance, National Board of Revenue (NBR) in addition to the Ministry of Commerce.
Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Tapan Kanti Ghosh told The Bangladesh Pratidin, “A delegation has discussed about rail connectivity with an additional secretary level official. A direct rail link between Kolkata and Tripura has already been started. Beyond the regional corridor, India, Nepal, China, Pakistan, Iran and Europe will benefit from this connectivity system.”
According to the sources, the proposed rail connectivity project is similar to the Motor Vehicles Agreement with Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan. But Bhutan has not signed the BBIN agreement. Besides, there is no rail communication system in Bhutan. However, India has rail connectivity with Bangladesh and Nepal. In addition, the Kurtha to Bijalpura section of Jayanagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas railway line has been commissioned through the cross-border link between India and Nepal. As a result, if rail connectivity is started with the current infrastructure facilities, a three-way communication system can be developed between Bangladesh, India and Nepal.
(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on November 20 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque)
