A cargo ship from Karachi, Pakistan, arrived at the Chittagong port on Monday, marking the first direct sea trade connection between the two countries.
Previously, containers from Pakistan had to pass through a third country before reaching Chittagong.
The ship, MV Yuan Jian Fa Zhong, brought various goods, sparking discussion on social media.
According to the Chittagong Port Authority, the ship arrived from Dubai, via Karachi, and unloaded 370 containers at the New Mooring Container Terminal on November 11.
Of these, 297 containers were from Karachi, and 73 were from the UAE.
Customs sources indicated that the containers included raw materials and consumer goods totalling 6,337 tons, supplied by 18 Pakistani exporters.
The largest shipment was sodium carbonate (soda ash), used in industries like textiles, which was brought in 115 containers.
Other significant imports included dolomite (46 containers), limestone (35 containers), and magnesium carbonate (6 containers).
There were also 10 containers of broken glass, raw materials for the glass industry, and 28 containers of materials for the garment industry.
Additionally, 42 containers of onions (611 metric tons) and 14 containers of potatoes (203 tons) were brought in frozen containers by local importers.
Apart from goods from Pakistan, containers from the UAE contained dates, gypsum, scrap metal, marble blocks, copper wire, and resin.
One container also carried alcoholic beverages like whisky, vodka, and wine, imported by Diplomatic Warehouse Sabir Traders in Dhaka.
Previously, goods from Pakistan were routed through Sri Lanka, Malaysia, or Singapore before being shipped to Chattogram, but the direct service is expected to benefit traders by reducing intermediate port stops.
Customs officials confirmed the successful arrival and clearance of goods, marking the beginning of direct maritime trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh.