First vessel from Bangladesh arrives in Tripura boosting ties between both countries

The first consignment of goods from Bangladesh arrived in Tripura by waterway on Saturday as part of a trial run for shipping of goods from other parts of India to the northeast region via Bangladesh formally making operational of new waterways between the two neighbours.

A Bangladeshi vessel tracking 93 km waterways carrying 10 tonnes of cement from Daukandi in the neighbouring country arrived western Tripura's Sonamura, where Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb accompanied by others received the vessel.

The India-Bangladesh relations are likely to see a new phase in its bilateral relationship with revival of their pre-partition mode of connectivity through riverine transportation. Recently the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has permitted ferrying of goods vessels by waterway between the Sonamura port in Tripura and Daudkandi under Cumilla in the neighbouring nation.

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It was approved on May 20 this year and included in the second addendum to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade between India and Bangladesh. Inland vessels of bothe the countries can move on the designated protocol route and dock at ports of Call in each country, for unloading or loading of cargounder this protocol.

This will greatly facilitate the bilateral trade, with cost-effectiveness for the business community and improved reliability among the people of both the countries. The business fraternity of both the countries have welcomed the move between the nations toward improving connectivity with neighbors and hope very soon Bangladesh would bring relaxation in its policy towards investing in its neighboring nation like India and which shall strengthen the bilateral relation.

The 93 kilometer length of the Sonamura-Daudkandi route through thestretch of the Gumati river is Tripura’s first protocol route. Already the Tripura government with the help of the Ministry of Shipping has set up a temporary jetty at Sonamura, which is very close to the border.   

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