The container vessel service from Bangladesh to India under the Coastal Shipping Agreement was inaugurated yesterday.
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan formally inaugurated the service at New Mooring Container Terminal at Chittagong Port.
While addressing as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony, the minister expressed his optimism that the bilateral coastal shipping service would boost trade between the two neighbouring countries by reducing freight time and cost.
“The launching of direct container vessel service will also ease immense pressure on land ports,” said the minister.
“The coastal shipping will enhance bilateral trade by cutting down costs of logistics as vessels would be directly moving between ports of India and Bangladesh instead of routing via Singaporean and Sri Lankan ports,” said Commodore Zulfiqur Aziz, acting chairman of Chittagong Port Authority.
The inaugural ceremony was addressed by Nur-e-Alam Chowdhury MP, Nazrul Islam Chowdhury MP, secretary to the shipping ministry Ashok Madhab Roy, Commodore Zulfiqur Aziz, acting chairman of Chittagong Port Authority, Rakesh Raman, first secretary to Indian High Commission in Bangladesh, among others.
As part of the bilateral shipping service, MV Harbour 1, a vessel laden with 150 empty containers will set sail for Krishnapatnam Port of India from Chittagong Port of Bangladesh on March 17. The vessel will reach Krishnapatnam Port on March 22.
MV Harbour 1 laden with goods will sail from Krishnapatnam Port on March 23 and it will reach Chittagong Port on March 28.
Bangladesh usually imports onion, rice, lentils, cotton, industrial raw materials and machinery from India.