Friday, May 03, 2024
A meeting on the implementation of Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement (BBIN MVA) has been held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka from March 5-6.
Delegations from Nepal, India and Bangladesh attended the meeting. Bhutan participated in the meeting as an observer, read a post of Foreign Affairs Ministry on Facebook.
The Bangladesh delegation comprised of representatives from relevant ministries was led by Rokebul Haque, Director General (South Asia), Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Indian delegation was led by Smita Pant, Joint Secretary (Bangladesh and Myanmar Division) of Ministry of External Affairs while Nepalese delegation led by Bhimarjun Adhikari, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.
All the delegates expressed hope that BBIN MVA will open a new era for physical connectivity among the countries of this sub-region. The meeting discussed the progress made, so far, under the BBIN MVA. The meeting also discussed in details the draft Protocol for movement of Cargo Vehicles under the BBIN MVA.
Once operationalized, this framework would contribute to the economy of contracting countries not only by expanding trade and commerce, but also by creating more opportunities to promote people-to-people contact which is fundamental in promoting trust and faith among these countries. During these meetings, all contracting countries expressed their sincere commitments in early implementation of BBIN process for promoting greater regional cooperation as envisioned by the leaders.
Bhutanese delegate informed the meeting that the Royal Government of Bhutan is actively considering to re-join the BBIN process soon.
It may be mentioned that the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) for the Regulation of Passenger, Personal and Cargo Vehicular Traffic between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal was signed on 15 June 2015 in Thimphu, Bhutan. The last meeting on the implementation of BBIN MVA was held in March 7-8, 2022 in New Delhi, India.
