Cargo vessel heads from Assam to Bangladesh after seven decades

A cargo vessel carrying 540 tonnes of methanol has left Assam’s Dibrugarh for Bangladesh, reviving direct inland waterway trade between the two countries after nearly seven decades.

The barge DLB Patkai departed from the Bogibeel terminal on Monday for Pangaon port in Bangladesh, assisted by the tugboat Kushal Konwar.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal formally flagged off the vessel at Bogibeel. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma joined the event virtually, while central and state ministers, lawmakers and officials from both countries were also present.

“This marks the return of Dibrugarh and the entire Northeast to the international waterways trade map,” Sonowal said.

Sarma described the development as a proud moment in Assam’s economic history, saying products made by industries in the state could now reach international markets through its waterways.

The methanol was produced by Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd, a state-owned company based in Namrup. The vessel will travel about 1,300km from Bogibeel to Pangaon, including around 768km along National Waterway 2 on the Brahmaputra before reaching the India-Bangladesh border.

After entering Bangladesh, the vessel will use the India-Bangladesh Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade route to reach Pangaon.

Dibrugarh has a long history of river-based trade, particularly tea exports through the Brahmaputra. However, the trade declined with the expansion of railways and the historic river terminal became inactive in 1956.

The development of modern customs and immigration facilities at Bogibeel and Dhubri has helped revive prospects for international commercial navigation. The passenger and cargo terminal at Bogibeel, launched in February 2024, played a key role in the latest shipment.

Earlier, Tata Steel cargo was transported from Haldia to Guwahati’s Pandu through Bangladesh’s waterways in 2022, while the cruise vessel MV Ganga Vilas travelled along the route in 2023.

However, the current shipment is the first direct commercial movement of industrial raw materials from Upper Assam to a foreign port, according to the report.

The new route could reduce transportation time and costs, particularly given Bangladesh’s demand for methanol in industries including garments and pharmaceuticals.

Experts said the long-term success of the initiative would depend on regular commercial services, smooth customs clearance and the availability of return cargo.