Photo: Collected
After six decades, river transportation will once again connect Rajshahi to Murshidabad starting from February 12th. Following the Indo-Pakistan war in 1965, the river connectivity between the two regions was discontinued, disrupting the flow of merchant boats carrying goods and products from the Godaghari Sultanganj river port in Rajshahi to Maya port in Murshidabad, India.
After numerous official discussions between the two countries and a thorough physical survey of the riverine route, merchants will resume transportation of goods from Rajshahi to Murshidabad and vice versa starting on February 12th (Monday).
"A small ship carrying two tonnes of cotton will depart from Sultanganj port to Maya port on the day of the inauguration, with the return cargo from India to be confirmed in the next couple of days," stated an official.
Both governments view the revival of riverine transportation as a means to strengthen trade and economic ties between the two nations.
"The protocol was initially signed in 1972 and was renewed on March 31, 2020, to ensure that both countries benefit from their waterways for trade and commerce," added the official.
Muhammad Shah Alam, a sub-assistant engineer of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), said, “Initially the river port will be connected with Maya Port of Murshidabad, India, through the Padma River.”
Alam said that the river port is going to launch under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) as part of the trade agreement between Bangladesh and India.
The riverine trade route would cover a distance of 17 kilometres. During the dry season, 200-300 tonnes of goods can be transported in each cargo. During monsoon, transportation of goods will be a bit difficult due to the strong current in the river, BIWTA officials said.
The river port’s connectivity will be extended to Rajshahi city, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Iswardi, Pabna, and also the Mongla port.
In an initial approval was for a 61-kilometre waterway from Rajshahi to West Bengal's Dhulian. The route was extended to Aricha, making the route 272 kilometres long.
President of Exporters’ and Importers’ Association of Chapai Nawabganj Kazi Shahabuddin said, “A 500-tonne capacity barge in the river is equivalent to 25 trucks on the road and uses less fuel oil. As a result, the prices of goods will be reduced.”
Although the navigability crisis in the Padma River has prevented its activation, the Sultanpur-Maya route can facilitate bilateral trade between both countries throughout the year.
Business leaders said the river port will primarily be used to import stones, fly ash, stones, coal, fruits, and spices from India, as well as to export jute and garments.
A significant amount of stone needs to be imported from the UAE, Vietnam, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia, and India. The stones are used for the construction of development projects.
President of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Masudur Rahman lamented that the river has lost its navigability and must be excavated before the full benefits of the river port can be realised.
India and Bangladesh, especially India, are interested in trading through this waterway. They want to trade through this route to easily deliver goods to the seven provinces of Northeast India through Bangladesh.
Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation AHM Khairuzzaman Liton said the establishment of the riverine route happened because of sincere effort of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Mayor Liton said the government has plans to conduct joint capital dredging for the river’s navigability by India and Bangladesh.
"Gradually, the navigability of the river will be increased through dredging. A new port is being established to the west of Rajshahi," the mayor said.
Messenger/Disha
