The cabinet yesterday approved the draft of a motor vehicle agreement aimed at enabling free movement of vehicles among Saarc member states.
The agreement titled “Draft Motor Vehicles Agreement for the Regulation of Passenger and Cargo Vehicular Traffic amongst Saarc Member States” was approved at the cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat. Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting.
Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters after the meeting the agreement would open the door for free movement of motor vehicles among Saarc member states. The draft also has the provision for taking licence and insuring vehicles, he said.
“According to the agreement, motor and cargo vehicles will be able to freely move across the eight Saarc member states. We hope the contract will be signed at the 18th Saarc summit scheduled to be held in Kathmandu on November 26-27. But before that, it will be finalised at the Saarc ministerial meeting,” said the cabinet secretary.
“In the draft, vehicles have been divided into three categories - passenger, cargo and personal. Passengers vehicles have again been divided into two categories - regular and non-regular,” he said.
Musharraf said a form would be prepared to be used for taking permission for travelling by vehicles among the Saarc countries.
He said offices would be set up in the member states in compliance with rules and regulations of each of the countries.
