Freight movement starts on the river route between Bangladesh and Assam

Guwahati: – A ship loaded with cement bags reached Karimganj in Assam, from Bangladesh, by the river route. The Indian embassy in Bangladesh informed that this ship reached Assam, on the 9th of November, under the Protocol for Inland Water trade and Transit (PIWTT). The river route trials had been conducted in the month of September from Bangladesh to Tripura. Sources informed that the trade between the northeastern states and Bangladesh would increase with this route.

On the 9th of November, the ship, MV Premier, started its journey from Bangladesh to Karimganj in Assam. The officials at the Indian embassy said that this waterway becomes important from the environment, economy and security point of view. Trade is already being conducted between India and Bangladesh by road and sea routes. Confidence is being expressed that the trade ties will be strengthened further with the river transport starting between the two countries.

Eight waterways have been opened between India and Bangladesh, till date, under the PWITT. Last year, 3.5 Mega Metric Tonnes (MMT) of goods were transported on this route. The information has also been revealed that work on other waterway projects in northeastern India have been started after Assam and Tripura. These routes in northeast India have made new opportunities available to India and Bangladesh, and this alternative route saves a lot of time.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the delegations from Indian and Bangladesh military was held at the Petrapole-Benapole integrated check post on the India-Bangladesh border. Officials from the Indian high commission in Bangladesh were also present at this time. India gifted 20 trained military horses and ten mine detection dogs as a goodwill gesture, to strengthen the bilateral ties. The Remount and Veterinary Corps of the Indian Army have trained these animals.