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13th November 2024 (9 Topics)

India-Bangladesh Cooperation on Land Ports and Border Infrastructure

Context

During the 6th Subgroup meeting of the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) with the Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA), India and Bangladesh decided to enhance cooperation in building infrastructure and operational efficiency at the various land ports and check-posts located along the 4,096-km long shared international border.

Key-highlights of the Meeting (India-Bangladesh Land Port Cooperation)

  • During the recent meeting, several key initiatives were discussed to boost infrastructure at land portsand improve trade facilitation. Among the major agenda points were:
    • Development of port facilities: Focused on the Gede-Darshna (West Bengal-Bangladesh)and Bholaganj (Meghalaya) ports to streamline trade processes.
    • Expediting cargo clearance: The Petrapole (West Bengal)and Agartala (Tripura) ports were identified for faster clearance of Bangladesh’s export cargo to reduce delays and enhance efficiency.
    • Construction of Integrated Check Posts (ICPs): Both countries discussed plans for the creation of new ICPsand the improvement of existing ones. This includes the proposal for a common cargo gate at Bhomra (Ghojadanga in West Bengal) to facilitate smoother trade exchanges.
  • Special Emphasis on Regional Connectivity
    • Facilitating transit for Bangladeshi trucks: Discussions took place regarding the movement of Bangladeshi truckscarrying exports to Nepal and Bhutan via ports like Burimari and Banglabandha. This would help Bangladesh secure additional trade routes to its landlocked neighbours.
    • Operationalising new ports: The Sabroom (Tripura)land port was discussed for quick operationalisation to handle increased cross-border traffic. Similarly, the Tegamukh (Bangladesh)-Kawrpuichhuah (Mizoram) land port was also highlighted for development to boost connectivity between India’s northeastern states and Bangladesh.
    • 24x7 operations: There was a strong push to establish certain land ports as 24x7 operational points, which would further ease the flow of goods, making trade between the two countries more efficient and timely.
  • The initiatives also fall in line with broader regional connectivity goalsunder frameworks like the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) Initiative and other regional trade and infrastructure cooperation agreements.

Fact Box:

Indo-Bangladesh Border

  • India shares 4096.7 Km of its land border with Bangladesh.
  • West Bengal (2217 km), Assam (262 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Tripura (856) and Mizoram (318 km) are the States which share the border with Bangladesh.
  • This is based on Radcliffe Line that was published on 17 August 1947 as a boundary demarcation line between India and Pakistan upon the partition of India.

Land Port Authority of India (LPAI)

  • The Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) is a statutory body established under the LPAI Act, 2010.
  • It falls under the purview of the Border Management Department of the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA).
  • The LPAI functions under the Union home ministry.
  • It is responsible for the efficient management of the Integrated Check-Posts (ICPs).
    • Border checkpoints are an integral part of border management. They are usually managed by officials responsible for inspecting and facilitating the legitimate cross-border movement of people and goods, while preventing any unauthorised passage.
  • It is tasked with developing, sanitising and managing the facilities for cross-border movement, at the designated points along the international border of India.
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