DHAKA: The cabinet Monday approved two protocols on Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala and Dhaka-Sylhet-Shillong-Guwahati bus services which are expected to be signed during Narendra Modi’s Dhaka tour.

Besides, it gave approval to a draft of an agreement between Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

Cabinet Secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan disclosed the matter to the journalists after the meeting.

He further said the government would follow the same process taken earlier during signing of the agreements on Dhaka-Kolkata-Dhaka and Dhaka-Agartala-Dhaka bus plying routes.

The two protocols were promulgated under the “Agreement Between the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Government of the Republic of India for the Regulation of Motor Vehicle Passenger Traffic Between the two Countries”.

The secretary also said the protocol would help increase connectivity between the two countries’ people.

He added: “The vehicles which would ply between the two countries would require route permit, registration certificates, fitness certificates, insurance policy papers. The drivers and helpers and passengers of the bus and should have passports and multiple entry visas.”

Besides, under the deal being signed between BSTI and BIS, the quality of each others products will be certified.

The product quality controllers of two countries would coordinate each other about the quality control methods so that both countries can maintain same standard and quality.

"Trade between the countries will increase further once the agreement is effective," said Musharraf Hossain.

BDST: 2108 HRS, JUN 01, 2015
SR/SMS