Two large cargo vessels made in Bangladesh have been exported to neighbouring India.
The ships were handed over to Indian company Jindal Steel Works on Friday on the occasion of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Homecoming Day.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das were present during the handover ceremony of the two ships, JSW Singad and JSW Logad, to India’s Jindal Steel Works.
The programme was held at the Western Marine Shipyard on Karnaphuli River in the port city on Friday.
While addressing the handover ceremony as the chief guest, the commerce minister said that Bangladesh’s shipbuilding capacity was enhancing further.
“The shipbuilding industry of Bangladesh has developed and we are now exporting vessels. This is brightening the country’s image to the world,” said the minister.
“Bangladesh was once dubbed as a bottomless basket. But now it has emerged as a surprise to the world. We have set our target of double digit growth,” said the minister.
The minister expressed his optimism that India will place more work orders for building ships in the coming days.
India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das said that the handover of the vessels would be a milestone for the trade relations of the two neighbouring countries.
Western Marine Shipyard Chairman Saiful Islam said: "For the first time 8,000 Deadweight Tonnage (DWT) vessels ships were made in Bangladesh.
“India’s Jindal Steel Works placed work orders for four vessels at a cost of Tk 200 crore in 2015. As per the work order, JSW Raigad and JSW Pratapgad were handed over in 2017,” he added.
According to Western Marine Shipyard, the two large vessels with the capacity to move at a speed of 10 nautical miles will be used to carry coal and iron from India’s Jaigar port to Dharamtar port.
