WELCOME

1

Welcome to

THE COUNTRY PRESENTATION

OF

BANGLADESH2

Contents of the Presentation

1.General Overview2.Trade Scenario between Participating Countries3. Cross- Border and Transit Transport by Land

a. Roadsb. Train

4. Present status and Challenges.5. Legal Basis6. Transport Facilitation Measures7. Existing Challenges.8. Suggestions9. Conclusion

General OverviewGeneral Overview• Area : 1,47,570 sq. kilo miters• Population : 152.70 million (2011)• Total GDP : US$ 150 billion (Aug,

2013)• GDP Per Capita: US$ 1044 (Aug, 2013)• Total Exports : US$ 27.02 billion

(FY2012-13)• Total Imports : US$ 33.98 billon

(FY2012-13)• Capital : Dhaka• Bangladesh achieved average 6% GDP

growth during last five years.

4

Trade Scenario

between

Participating Countries

Trade with Participating CountriesF/Y 2012-13

(value in million US$)

COUNTRY EXPORT IMPORT BALANCE OF TRADE

Afghanistan 3.57 2.30 1.27

Pakistan 68.70 489.80 (-) 421.10

Iran 75.42 7.10 68.32

Bhutan 1.82 24.70 (-) 22.88

Turkey 637.81 224 413.81

Myanmar 13.67 84.10 (-) 70.43

India 536.96 4776.80 (-) 4212.84

Nepal 26.41 35.70 (-) 9.29

Trade with Participating Countries(Value in million US$)

Land Ports of Bangladesh

• In Bangladesh 21 Land Customs Stations have been declared as Land Port. Major L.P. are:

1. Benapole2. Burimari3. Akhaura4. Sonamosjid5. Hili6. Teknaf 7. Bibirbazar 12 L.P.are managed by Bangladesh Land Port Authority, 06 L.

P. are operated under BOT.

Land Port Wise Trade(2011-12)(In million M.T.)

NAME OF THE PORT

EXPORT IMPORT TOTAL

BENAPOLE 4.64 12.12 16.76

BURIMARI - 3.57 3.57

AKHAURA 5.75 .0017 5.7517

SONAMOSJID - 14.02 14.02

HILI 0.1072 6.03 6.1732

TEKNAF .0063 .85 .8563

BIBIRBAZAR 1.25 - 1.25

Port Wise Export and Import(In million MT)

LEGAL BASIS OF ROADS CONNECTIVITY

Procedure for Monitoring of entry/exit of Nepalese Vehicles through Phulbari- Bangladesh L.C.S. Signed on 23 October, 2010.Procedure for Monitoring of entry/exit of Vehicles at LCSs on India-Bangladesh Border. Signed on 23 October, 2010.

Main GoodsMainly: Jute and Jute goods, Cement, Battery, Rice, Wheat, Onion, Fruits, Fly ash, Lentil, Tobacco, Stone, Railway concrete slipper, Waste fabrics, glass sheet, Food products, Medicine, Net fabrics, Bamboo, Turmeric, Watch, Ginger, Marble slab, Processed stone, Bricks, Tiles, Fish, Furniture, Shoe, Leather, Umbrella, Betel nut, Readymade garments, Potato, Egg, Hair, Aluminum products, Plastic goods, machinery, Crashed stone, Drinks, PVC, Knit fabrics, Plastic doors, Cotton sharee etc are usually carried through our Land Port

Major Challenges in L.P.

1. Clearing or unloading of Bangladeshi Truck in Petrapole (India)

2. Delay in checking the quality of export items.3. Absence of quarantine facility. 4. Overloading accelerates damage of road pavement and

hence standardization of vehicle loading is crucially important for development of cross-border road network.

5. In Burimari Land Port of Bangladesh the Bhutanese trucks have necessary permission to entre into Bangladesh territory by using Indian land. But the Bangladeshi trucks have no such permission to enter into Land Port in Bhutan.

Major Challenges in L.P.

6.In Banglabanda Land Port of Bangladesh the Nepalees trucks have necessary permission to entre into Bangladesh territory by using Indian land. But the Bangladeshi trucks have no such permission to enter into Land Port in Nepal.

7. In Benapole Land Port of Bangladesh, at the Indian side there is no sufficient space for unloading/transshipment of Bangladeshi export items and has no warehouse facility.

Cross-Border Operations for Freight by Rail(In million M.T.)

YEAR DARSANA ROHANPUR BENAPOLE TOTAL

2008-09 5.68 1.28 1.16 8.12

2009-10 6.73 0.54 1.41 7.27

2010-11 5.25 0.65 0.69 6.59

2011-12 3.18 - 0.88 4.24

2012-13 1.74 0.02 0.23 2.04

Cross-Border Operations for Freight(In million M.T.)

Cross-Border Operations for Passengers

YEAR TOTAL PASSENGERS

2009 11,180

2010 15,434

2011 21,314

2012 39,027

Cross-Border Operations for Passengers

11,180 15,43421,314

39027

2009 2010 2011 2012

PASSENGERS

Legal Arrangement for Rail Operation

Darsana-Ranaghat: Re-open on the basis of Inter Governmental Railway Meeting(IGRM) on 12 January, 1972.Rohanpur- Singhabad: Working Agreement between India and Bangladesh, signed on 23 September, 1990.Benapole-Petrapole: Working Agreement between India and Bangladesh, signed on 04 July, 2000.Maitree Express: Agreement between India and Bangladesh for running Passenger Train Service, Signed on 10 April,2008.

Major Challenges in Rail Transport

Re-establishing Rail connections between Chilahati-Haldibari, Burimari-Chengrabandha, Kulaura- Mohishasan, Akhaura-Agartala.Gauge conversion of rail line between Birol-Radhikapore.Establishing Rohanpur- Singhabad rail route for Nepal Transit Traffic through India.Enhancement of Maitree Express Train trips/trains.

Transport Facilitation Measures

SASEC Road Connectivity Project for Improving physical infrastructure at Banapole and Burimari land port and enhance capacity of Land Port Authority. India and Bangladesh have created Joint Working Groups on Trade and Customs in recent years. Regular meetings of customs and trade officials between the two countries have resulted in the reduction or elimination of many of the non-tariff barriers.

Transport Facilitation Measures

• Under SASEC, ADB has undertaken the Transport Logistics and Trade Facilitation Project to develop the missing rail link between Akhaura (Bangladesh) and Agartala (India) and to develop a cross-border management regime

• ADB has conducted Business Process Analysis to identify various bottlenecks that affect trade between Bangladesh and Nepal on the one hand, and Bangladesh and Bhutan on the other.

Challenges in Implementing Facilitation Measures

Harmonization of Design Standards for Roads and Bridges, design speed, loading etc.Political attitudesEconomic non-viability of Introducing automated System in all L.C.S.Shortage of adequate Fund

Suggestion for the facilitation of transit and transport

• The Intergovernmental Agreement on Dry Ports being adopted by the ESCAP member countries is expected to a key step towards streamlining trade facilitation.

• In order to ensure seamless movement of cross-border traffic, deployment of IT-base traffic information to provide homogeneous information on road corridors.

• Motor Vehicle Agreement.• Harmonized traffic information service.

Suggestion for the facilitation of transit and transport• Innovative financing options for regional infrastructure

development and maintenance.• Enhancing Private Sector Participation in infrastructure.• Promoting sustainable and inclusive transport.• Activate Infrastructure Windows of SAARC Development Fund.

• To activate infrastructure windows of SAARC Development Fund.

CONCLUSION

• Regional Transit and Transport and Transport Facilitation measures play a very vital role in Economic Development of every Country. The Countries involved in it must provide active cooperation in true sense.

• International Financial Institutions should enhance their support.

• Minimizing political gap will bring better result.