Bangladesh, India to renew river transit protocol

Bangladesh will ask India for discharge of more water through the Farakka barrage to keep river routes in its territory navigable as officials of both sides meet to seek ways through which the expired tratey could be renewed for mutual benefit.

The issue of water flow would come up prominently when Bangladesh officials will meet their counterparts in New Delhi on April 30-May 1 for renewal of the water transit protocol, 'The New Age' daily quoted shipping ministry officials as saying.

The Bangladesh side will place six-point demands, including increase of maintenance cost for river transit points and lodge as waterway transportation was badly hampered in the dry season due to drastic fall in water level in the Padma river system as India regulates the water flow through Farakka, they said.

The two countries signed the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade 27 years back to facilitate cross-border trade through waterways.