DHAKA: Bangladesh shipping line will get special facilities in using the ports in the island nation Sri Lanka.

The decision was made in the first ever secretary-level meeting on shipping between the two south Asian neighbors at Bangladesh shipping ministry in Dhaka on Tuesday (October 25).

Bangladesh shipping secretary Ashok Madhab Roy and Sri Lanka ports and shipping secretary LP Jayampathi led their respective delegations at the meeting.

The visiting team also met Bangladesh shipping minister Shahjahan Khan at the ministry.

After the meeting the minister told the media that the two counties will talk about a deal on coastal shipping. The national flag-carrying ships will get special facilities at the ports.

Moreover, Bangladesh ships will get preferential birthing tariff concession at the Sri Lanka ports.

Both the counties agreed to discuss on introducing feeder service, ship lease and purchase, meeting between government and non-government stakeholders, training and employment for Bangladeshi mariners, visa simplification and other issues.

Mongla Port Authority chairman Rear Admiral Riazuddin Ahmed, shipping ministry additional secretary Rafiqul Islam, commerce ministry joint secretary Munir Chowdhury, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation MD Commodore M Habibur Rahman Bhuiyan, foreign ministry director general (South Asia) Monowar Hossain, among others, were present at the meeting.

BDST: 1400 HRS, OCT 25, 2016
RR/SMS