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First Indian cargo ship arrives in Mongla port from NE India

BNE News Desk


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In a bid to strengthen transit facilities between India and Bangladesh the first Indian Cargo ship arrived in the Mongla port on August 8. This is the first trial run by India to use the Mongla Port for transporting cargo to the northeastern states of Assam and Meghalaya from the neighbouring country under the India Bangladesh Transshipment Agreement.

The ship carried two containers- one transporting 16.380 tonnes of iron pipes in 70 packages and the other container containing 8.5 tonnes of prefoam in 249 packets.

Bangladesh and India signed an agreement to allow India to use the Chattogram and Mongla ports for transit about four years ago. Meanwhile, India will run four trial runs before the operation officially commences.

The vessel, MV Rishad Raihan sailed from Kolkata port on August 1 and reached the Mongla on August 7, finally anchoring at the jetty during the early hours of August 8. It sailed d through the Mongla-Tamabil (Sylhet) and Mongla-Bibirbazar (Cumilla) routes. Presently, both containers are heading back to Assam.

The arrival was observed by the Indian Assistant High Commissioner Inder Jeet Sagar, Chairman of Mongla Port Authority Rear Admiral Mohammad Musa, Mongla Port Authority Member Mohammad Abdul Wadud Tarafder and other dignitaries.

According to the Shipping Ministry, India and Bangladesh signed an agreement in October 2018 to transport goods from NE states using the Chattogram and Mongla ports. However, the agreement couldn’t be implemented due to the pandemic situation.

BNE News Desk