First cargo ship from Bangladesh arrives in Tripura via inland waterways -

Agartala: The first freight ship carrying 50 tonnes of cement reached Sonamura in Tripura from Bangladesh via the river route. This is the first Bangladesh-Tripura river route transport. Work is in progress on the other river routes. These domestic water transport routes will help a significant increase in the trade between north-eastern states of India and Bangladesh.

The route from Daudkandi port in Bangladesh through the Meghana river, and thereafter to Sonamura port in Tripura through the Gomti river, will soon be open for regular freight movement in north-eastern states. Test run has been conducted on this 89.5 kilometres route. A ship carrying 50 metric tonnes of cement, which left the Daudkandi port on Thursday, reached Sonamura in Tripura on Saturday. Biplav Kumar Dev, the Chief Minister of Tripura, was present at this time. Minister for Shipping, Mansukh Mandaviya, also attended the function via videoconferencing.

India and Bangladesh had signed Protocol for Inland Water Trade and Transit in 1972 to strengthen connectivity with the north-eastern states. Eight routes have been opened till date, and 3.5 mega metric tonnes freight movement has been carried out on these routes. But water transport via the river route has been done for the first time.

Last month, Bangladesh permitted water transport between Daudkandi and Sonamura. Tripura government has built a temporary port at Sonamura with the help of the ministry of shipping. The freight movement will be carried out through this port. This will increase exports from Tripura to Bangladesh. Freight movement, via the road and marine routes, is being carried out between India and Bangladesh. Confidence is being expressed that now, the opening of the river route will strengthen the trade ties between the two countries.