After the water connectivity with Tripura, another initiative has been taken to launch trade by waterway from Rajshahi in Bangladesh to Murshidabad in West Bengal of India.
Goods will be transported from Godagari in Rajshahi to Maya port in Murshidabad via the River Padma.
Officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) said transportation of various goods will start experimentally through this river route very soon. Both Bangladesh and India have already agreed on principle in this regard.
Talking to Bangladesh Post, Muhammad Rafiqul Islam, Director (Traffic and Security Management), said, “Recently, both the countries have agreed on principle to launch trade in this river route.”
He said, “Plans are afoot to send a test invoice within two months. BIWTA officials are now reviewing the waterway's infrastructure condition.”
“If this river route is activated, the communications system between the western zone of Bangladesh and India would be much easier. Massive quantities of goods could be transported at a time at cheaper costs,” said the BIWTA Director.
He added that BIWTA has already requested the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to install a customs office at Godagari.
A new water connectivity between Bangladesh and Tripura was launched on September 5. As part of the new river communication system, a ship carrying cement crossed the border from Daudkandi in Cumilla via Bibir Bazar in the same district via the Gumti river. The goods were unloaded in Sonamura area of Tripura's Sipaila district. This was an experimental invoice.
Furthermore, since independence of Bangladesh, only the Kolkata-Narayanganj-Kolkata trade was being run under the river protocol between Bangladesh and India. Various goods including fly ash, clinker, and stones come to Narayanganj from Kolkata. Some goods also go from Bangladesh. In addition to Kolkata, initiatives have been taken to expand trade by waterway with Tripura, Murshidabad and other regions in India.
However, under the naval protocol, India is taking transit advantage using waterways of Bangladesh. India transports various goods from Kolkata to Pandu (Assam), Kolkata Karimganj (Assam) and Kolkata to Ashuganj (Agartala of Tripura).
Besides, there is an approval for a 78km long waterway from Rajshahi to Dhulian in Murshidabad of West Bengal. But this route is not active now. The BIWTA has now taken an initiative to shorten the route and carry goods from Sultanganj in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi to Maya river port in Murshidabad.
The distance of this route is only 18 kilometres as cargo ships could cross the Padma River almost horizontally. During the dry season, a single vessel will be able to carry 200-300 tonnes of goods per trip. During the monsoon, however, it would be difficult to carry goods due to strong current of the River Padma.
Sources said, in many big projects like Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant, Bangladesh uses Pakur Stones brought from Murshidabad. This is quality stone but it costs much for its import by road. If the Godagari-Maya waterway is activated, the stone import cost would be reduced.
According to sources concerned, bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India is increasing by waterways. It has almost doubled in the last 10 years. In the 2010-11 financial year, 14,29,000 tonnes of goods were exported and imported between the two countries. After 10 years, in the last 2019-20 fiscal year, it has increased to 27, 69,000 tonnes.
