India inks deal to route petroleum products via Bangladesh

The Dollar Business Bureau 

India has signed a route agreement with Bangladesh allowing the passage of petroleum products from Assam to Tripura via the territory of Bangladesh for a short-term period. Heavy rains have caused damage to the roads making transportation difficult between these two states. 

On humanitarian grounds, the Government of Bangladesh has granted permission for the movement of petroleum products through their territory till the end of September this year, High Commission of India in Dhaka said in a statement. 

State-owned Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) and the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) of Bangladesh signed an MoU on Thursday in Dhaka. Under the terms of the pact, petroleum items such as motor spirit, high speed diesel, superior kerosene oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) will be permitted to be transported from Assam to Tripura through Bangladesh. 

According to The Daily Star report, the Government of India had requested Bangladesh to allow carrying petroleum goods from Assam to Tripura through their territory as heavy monsoons and the resultant bad condition of NH44 have disrupted the supply between these two states. 

The vehicles transporting the petroleum items will move in the route that crosses Dawki in Meghalaya, Tamabil and Chatlapur in Bangladesh, and Kailasshar in Tripura, the High Commissioner of India has appreciated the Bangladesh govt’s goodwill gesture. 

As per the diplomatic sources, Bangladesh and India have allowed each other to make use of their respective territories to transport goods from one place to another and also to a third country during earlier times in addition to the prevailing transit deals and shipment arrangements.