Bangladesh ratifies 4-nation deal facilitating transit of motor vehicles

Bangladeshi cabinet has approved a proposal for ratification of "The Motor Vehicles Agreement for the Regulation of Passenger, Personal and Cargo Vehicular Traffic between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal."

The country's cabinet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair approved the proposal for ratification of the agreement on Monday.

The agreement was signed on June 15 this year at a meeting of the road transport ministers of the four countries, which was held in Bhutan capital of Thimphu.

After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hussain Bhuiyan told journalists that the ratification was needed to complete the formalities of effectiveness of the agreement.

He said the agreement will come into effect after its ratification by other governments of signatory countries.

Officials in Dhaka said the agreement aims at starting seamless transit of passenger, cargo and personal vehicles among the countries, and it will allow vehicles to ply designated routes in the four countries.