The Bonhomie Grows Stronger: India Signs Agreement To Use Bangladesh’s Chattogram and Mongla Ports

India and Bangladesh have signed an agreement to open Chattogram and Mongla ports for India’s trade, Mint has reported. Chattogram Port is also known by the name Chittagong Port. Both are located in Bangladesh.

The two sides have also decided to initiate Kolkata-Dhaka-Guwahati-Jorhat river cruise services. The agreements were signed during the nineteenth edition of the standing committee meeting under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade that was held in New Delhi.

“An addendum has also been signed for inclusion of new ports Dhubri in India and Pangaon in Bangladesh,” Shipping secretary Gopal Krishna told Mint.

During the meeting, India and Bangladesh agreed for development of Jogighopa as a transshipment terminal for movement of cargo to north-eastern states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Bhutan. In addition to this, the two countries held discussions to operationalise the Nakugaon land port in Bangladesh and Dalu in India.

“The last round of talks between India and Bangladesh was held in 2016 and I am happy that after two years India has initiated the next round of talks which will help both countries,” Bangladesh shipping secretary Abdus Samad told Mint.

The cooperation between India and Bangladesh in inland water transport and trade will help the north-eastern states of India to get better connectivity and reduce logistics costs significantly.