In a first, vessel from Kolkata reaches Bangladesh port for transhipment of steel to Assam

In a significant move that will boost connectivity between India and Bangladesh, a vessel from Kolkata arrived at Chattogram port on Tuesday.

According to a report by All India Radio’s news division, the vessel M/V Trans Samudera transported steel bars to the northeastern state of Assam via the territory of Bangladesh.

The report said that the trial run is being undertaken by Tata Steel and CJ Darcl Logistics Ltd. on Chattogram-Sheola-Sutarkandi route.

The vessel started from Kolkata’s Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port on Sunday morning with the consignment. The movement has been undertaken under the transit agreement signed between India and Bangladesh in 2018.

The agreement is aimed at facilitating transhipment and use of Mongla and Chittagong ports. This would mean that goods from Kolkata can be sent to the land-locked northeastern states through Bangladesh, an exercise that will reduce both transit cost and time.

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“This is very encouraging development showing that we are on track as far as connectivity is concerned,” Ishfaq Ilahi Choudhury, Bangladesh retired Air Force officer and a commentator of South Asian affairs told India Narrative earlier.

AIR further said that the first trial movement under this agreement on the route Chattogram-Akhaura-Agartala was conducted in July 2020 when four containers, two each of TMT steel and pulses, were delivered at Integrated Check Post (ICP) Agartala from Kolkata through Chattogram.

An Observer Research Foundation report said that the move will also add an alternative connectivity route that will boost trade as the usage of these Bangladeshi ports will reduce time and distance substantially, making its more viable.