NATIONAL 3 -(Spotlight Weekly)

ROAD TO BANGLADESH

Short But Unsteady

Three years after the Fulbari transit route to Bangladesh was opened, traffic and trade have failed to pick up

BY AKSHAY SHARMA

The shortest transit route from Nepal to the sea is passes from the eastern town of Kakkarvitta, through Fulbari, India, into Bangladesh's northeastern Panchagar district and finally to Mogala port. For a Nepalese businessman, student or tourist, the distance from the border checkposts is about 30-35 kilometers.

"Culturally, we would be a lot closer if the passage to Bangladesh is used. And it would be economically cheaper for students like me studying in Bangladesh. We have so much in common,"says 23-year-old Prabigya Sharma, who is studying medical science in Bangladesh.

The languages of both countries originate from Sanskrit. "Bangla is so similar to Nepali. I can understand Nepali but I have a hard time trying to speak Nepali,"says M.A. Kader Khan, Counselor (trade, culture and press) at the Bangladesh Embassy.

Apart from greater cultural interaction, Nepal and Bangladesh, which have a combined trade deficit of 1,000 billion dollars, would gain economically as well. But that prospect has been clouded by several bottlenecks.

Sunil Chakradhar, who studies medicine at the University of Science and Technology in Chattagaon, Bangladesh, says, "Although this is the shortest route from Nepal to Bangladesh, the police usually harass us. They demand port good documents. Even though I'm a student, I've been harassed when I brought along something from Bangladesh."

Nepalese businessmen say they don't prefer using the Mogala port because they find the available facilities inadequate. Although billions of dollars were invested in modern infrastructure primarily for Nepalese imports and exports, the port remains unutilized. Bangladesh is, therefore, incurring huge losses.

"The road is quite perfect. Once the traffic starts, the Pancharan Deputy Commissioner has stated he will immediately provide the needed facilities. Customs and immigration offices will be constructed,"said Bangladesh Ambassador Cyril Sikder.

Sikder said at a press conference last month that after passing through the area recently, he felt Nepal and Bangladesh should sign an agreement to facilitate the use of the transit route.

The Mogala port has not been used for three years. "Although I'm not an expert, I think the route has not been properly used because India does not guarantee security,"says businessman Suraj Rajbhandari.

John Shrestha of Sealand Logistic Cargo adds, "India says it supports Nepal's use of the route, but it doesn't look that way in reality."

"India commits glaring transgression against her own principles and maybe Nepal is not pressing hard enough,"said Sikder, stressing that businessmen of both countries would stand to gain from the route

It usually takes two to three days for Nepalese businessmen to reach Calcutta port. The question is whether Nepal and Bangladesh can devise ways promoting the shorter access route to the sea.

Asked why he uses the Calcutta port instead of using the Fulbari route, Gyelbu Sherpa of Bir Gurkha Kukuri Industries says, "Nobody has taken the first step."He believes the Fulbari route would become popular if Nepalese businessmen were to receive guarantees of safe passage. "It took me four days to reach Calcutta in July because the railway tracks had been completely wiped out. Nepalese travelling on the bus are generally harassed. Indian officials harassed me for an hour. If you lose an item and contact the Indian authorities, they don't even care to enquire. You have to pass through Uttar Pradesh and officials demand the state sales tax even if you are bringing small items,"he said.

The Mogala Port handles an average of 361 ocean-going ships each year, according to Bangladesh's Ministry of Shipping. That comes to one ship per day.

A bilateral agreement on transport modalities will soon be signed between Nepal and Bangladesh. "If the transit route is used, the volume of trade in agro-based and manufactured goods will grow. There will be an opportunity to earn foreign exchange which in turn will relieve the pressure of unfavorable balance of payments of Bangladesh, India and Nepal,"Sikder said.

"Nepal and Bangladesh need to be serious about bilateral trade, investment and commerce to boost their economic development," Sikder said.

The two countries can hope to take steps to benefit from the route -- and strengthen links in many other areas -- once they sign the transport agreement.