Transit issue

T. J. Biswas, Motijheel, Dhaka
The above is an economic as well as political issue. When we want to politicise it, we turn it to our benefit. Primarily it is an economic issue .If transit is allowed it will benefit the stakeholders of the Chittagong Port and service providers. Their income will rise and scope of business will rise. Transit ICDs will mushroom with the influentials trying to get part of the cake. Some of the customs brokers will specialize on transit cargo. Transport companies will be routing containers through Bangladesh to the entry points in India. Franchise holders of the toll roads/bridges will be happy to have additional trucks on the highway meaning more income. Roadside eating houses will earn more. We have accepted the term of transit without knowing it how it works. Once our central, commercial banks, import & export trade controllers and customs were allergic to the term transit. With the containerisation of import and export cargo the term of transit does not exist. Customs officials do not penalize importers on the grounds of shipment from other than the country of origin. Banks do not hold docs on the grounds of discrepancy. But there will be people who will be opposing the transit of cargo on political grounds.