Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) have discussed possible cargo and passenger movement under a sub-regional cooperation initiative.
High officials of the countries discussed a range of issues at the second meeting of Joint Working Groups on sub-regional cooperation among the four countries on water resources management and power/hydropower and on connectivity and transit in New Delhi on Friday and yesterday.
“The [connectivity] meeting exchanged ideas on potential cargo [both roads and railways] and bus routes, involving at least three countries in addition to the existing bilateral routes and also agreed to share suggestions in this regard,” says a joint press release issued by the Foreign Ministry yesterday.
The JWG on connectivity agreed on the significance of BBIN agreements to enable movement of motor vehicles and railways, and reviewed the existing arrangements. It was also decided to explore the possibility of using multi-modal transport to meet commercial as well as tourist needs, the statement says.
The JWG on water resources management discussed the possibility of exchanging best practices on basin wide water resources management and development. “It discussed the scope for power trade and inter-grid connectivity between the four countries as well as potential for closer cooperation in future power projects,” the press release added.
It was also agreed to exchange lists of potential future hydropower/power projects to be undertaken jointly involving at least three countries on equitable basis. The BBIN agreed that joint efforts be made to explore harnessing of water resources including hydropower and power from other sources available in the sub-region.
The JWG took stock of the existing bilateral arrangements between the four countries on data sharing for flood forecasting and ways of improving the same.
Exchange of experiences and best practices in other areas of power sector among the four countries were also discussed in the meeting.
The JWG deliberated on the need for trade facilitation at land border stations for effective sub-regional connectivity.
The group exchanged views on usefulness of sharing trade infrastructure at land border stations and harmonisation of customs procedures.
The meetings also covered the terms of reference for both JWGs and decided that the next meetings would be held in the second half the current year in Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh delegation was led by Tareq Md Ariful Islam, director general (South Asia) of the Foreign Ministry.
