Three agreements signed during the Awami League period allowing India to use Bangladesh’s ports, waterways and land routes remain in force, according to the report. The agreements are the use of Chattogram and Mongla ports for goods movement to and from India, the Coastal Shipping Agreement, and the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade. Critics cited in the report describe the arrangements as contrary to Bangladesh’s national interests.

The Coastal Shipping Agreement created scope for India to use Chattogram, Mongla, Payra and Pangaon as coastal ports. Under the port-use agreement, India can transport goods between its states through Bangladesh by paying what the report describes as nominal fees. The water transit protocol assigns Bangladesh responsibility for maintaining navigability on designated routes used by Indian vessels and provides for automatic renewal every five years.

A memorandum on use of Chattogram and Mongla ports was signed on June 6, 2015, while the port-use agreement was signed on October 25, 2018. An implementation procedure was signed in 2019, followed by a trial container shipment in 2020. Political analyst Dilara Chowdhury called for a public reassessment and parliamentary discussion of the agreements.