Dhaka: PM Sheikh Hasina’s proposed visit to India in the first week of October is expected to widen horizon of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) connectivity links that would create zone of prosperity in the Bay of Bengal region.
A brainstorming session was held in Dhaka last week to explore contours of BBIN connectivity in the build up to Hasina’s visit.
“While the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement (BBIN MVA) will directly and indirectly benefit the economies of these countries, there is an imperative to look beyond the agenda of building roads and simple exchange of traffic rights. It should be enabled with appropriate regulatory, financial and digital connectivity among individuals, businesses and government if we are to unlock the true potential of their economic integration with each other,” said Bipul Chatterjee, Executive Director, CUTS International, a leading global public policy research and advocacy group.
Chatterjee was addressing the session titled “Connectivity and Trade Facilitation in the BBIN Sub-region of the Indo-Pacific”.
With support of the U.S. Department of State and in partnership with Unnayan Shamannay, Bangladesh, Bhutan Media and Communications Institute and Nepal Economic Forum, CUTS International organised this regional policy dialogue with the objective of what needs to be done for positioning the BBIN MVA for its effective implementation. The implementation of the BBIN MVA for its effective implementation. The implementation of the BBIN MVA is expected to commence from the beginning of 2020.
Atiur Rahman, Chairman, Unnayan Shamannay, while chairing the opening session, said that “Bangladesh has always been in favour of open regionalism and the present political equations among the governments of these countries are conducive towards an effective implementation of the BBIN MVA”.
