The National Council of Bhutan, following thorough deliberations, voted against ratification of the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement (MVA) in the 18th Session of the Upper House on 15 November 2016. Council members delivered thirteen “no” votes, two “yes”, and five abstentions.

Mr. Damcho Dorji, Bhutan Foreign Affairs Minister, took to the floor to highlight the background, objectives, and principles of the subregional transport agreement. The House's Legislative Committee presented a review report on the BBIN MVA.

Outcomes and explanation of the National Council's vote on the BBIN MVA will be sent to the National Assembly, Bhutan's Lower House, which passed the subregional agreement in June 2016.

The BBIN MVA, signed in June 2015, is a framework agreement designed to facilitate passenger, personal, and cargo vehicular cross-border traffic between and among the four countries to reduce costly and time-consuming transshipment of people and goods at border crossings, and create opportunities for greater economic exchanges along designated key trade routes in the four countries.

Related Links:

• The National Council of Bhutan decided not to ratify the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement
• NC rejects BBIN agreement