The Indian move to set up an inland container port at Narayanganj bypassing Bangladesh government approval, and keeping it uninformed, has stirred sharp reaction to political observers watching the development.
Critics said even the Indian central government requires permission to set up any project in the federated states but Delhi has totally avoided to inform Bangladesh government on such a move, they said.
The Indian planned container port is going to be set up closer to another inland container port at Pangaon; which the Bangladesh government has already set up and closer to commissioning.
News report said New Delhi has invited a tender to conduct a feasibility study to set up their inland container port in
Narayanganj keeping the Bangladesh government in total dark. The Indian External Affairs Ministry posted an advertisement on May 10 in its website inviting bids for techno-commercial feasibility study for the port to be set up over 46 acres of land, possessed by Kumudini Welfare Trust on the bank of Shitalakya river.
The advertisement has clearly earmarked the time frame of several short term studies to be completed in few months leaving people here to wonder how the Indian authorities are now handling matters with Bangladesh.
“We have seen the tender. But, before that we were in complete dark about the project,” a foreign ministry official said.
The Foreign Ministry official said, they have already sent a letter to Indian Foreign Ministry seeking clarification on the move. They have also sent a letter to Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi to forward it to the Indian government seeking clarification, especially how the tender could be invited by Delhi on a project located in Bangladesh.
Reports said Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Swaran has downplayed the matter avoiding a direct reply to the media on the sensitive issue. The government is awaiting a reply from the Indian authorities, Foreign Ministry sources in Dhaka said.
According to the tender notice that Delhi has floated, Kumudini Welfare Trust of Bengal Ltd (KWTB) in Bangladesh, owns the land and it has shown interest in establishing an inland container port jointly with an Indian Partner having experience in setting and operating inland ports.
Prof Imtiaz Ahmed of the Department of International Relations of Dhaka University has raised several questions in this regard. He was at a loss as to how the Indian government is treating Bangladesh. He fears that if Delhi has acted on its own ignoring the government in Dhaka, it may become a sensitive political issue.
Moreover he wondered how the Kumudini Welfare Trust officials can enter into an agreement with Delhi and can authorize the floating of tenders for a project is not easily understandable. It is a serious breach in inter-state relations, he said.
Prof. Imtiaz also raised questions as to what the Bangladesh High Commission is doing in Dehi and wondered whether the persons posted there are really capable persons and having the professional efficiency to work at the nation’s watch dog. So many things are happening but they are quite unaware of it, this is not acceptable, he said.
Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon, editor of ‘Diplomat’ and BNP central executive committee member sounded critical over the failure of the Foreign Ministry. He said the move has showed India hardly bothers this government which is failing time and again to protect the nation’s interest.
He said Bangladesh government has already set up an inland container port at Pangaon, only few kilometers away from the land owned by Kumudini Welfare Trust. The container port is ready for commissioning and given this background what are the factors which are prompting the Indian government to set up a parallel container port in the area is unclear.
Source: The New Nation