Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan have agreed to launch three new bus services among them under the BBIN motor vehicles agreement, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said.
The agreement was signed on June 15 in Thimphu, Bhutan, by the transport ministers of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal.
After the signing, Quader met Bhutan’s Information and Communications Minister Lyonpo DN Dhungyel and they reached a decision to launch two bus services between Dhaka and Thimphu, the first of its kind between the two countries.
Quader also met Nepal’s Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Bimalendra Nidhi and the two decided to launch a Dhaka-Kathmandu bus service.
Quader yesterday told reporters at the Secretariat that the initial decision to launch three trans-border bus services had been made.
Sources said two of the three new bus routes are Dhaka-Thimphu via India’s Joygong and Bhutan’s Phuesoreng, which will pass through Burimari border, and Dhaka-Thimphu via India’s Guwahati and Bhutan’s Samdrup Jongkhar, which will pass through Tamabil border in Sylhet.
The other route is Dhaka-Kathmandu via India’s Panitanki and Nepal’s Kakarbhitta. It will pass through Bangladesh’s Banglabandha border.
Road Transport and Bridges Ministry’s Joint Secretary Chandan Kumar Dey said bilateral and trilateral protocols would be needed before launching the new bus services. He also said valid documents would be needed for vehicles to enter from one country to another.
Quader earlier said vehicles crossing the BBIN countries must have insurance coverage and authorised officials can search them. “They will not be allowed to take passengers while in another country during the journey.”
At present, Bangladesh and India have a bilateral arrangement on passenger movement but Bangladeshi vehicles can enter Nepal or Bhutan through India and vice versa once the new agreement takes effect.