The government is working on a plan to improve waterway connectivity with India in order to ease bilateral trades and communications. Goods transportation cost will be reduced by 60 percent, if water communication between Bangladesh and India is established and expanded. State Minister of Shipping Ministry Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said this at a discussion titled 'Bangladesh-India Naval Communication: Potentials and Doings' organized by Indian Media Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (IMCAB) at the National Press Club on Thursday.
“There is no dispute between India and Bangladesh. We will keep up our bilateral discussions to resolve the existing river-related issues. The Teesta and other long debated topics are coming into light. Hasina- Modi relation has reached in a new height. India and Bangladesh shares 54 streams in Bangladesh will help us to expand business opportunity for both” he said.
He also mentioned that river communication is safer than the other means of transportations. Cost and environment-friendly at the same time. “The shipping ministry is drafting new ordinances which will be discussed later as our water transportation laws are old,” he added. The ministry is taking initiatives to boost up mutual export and import ratio also, the state minister said. He also urged the Indian journalists working in Bangladesh to highlight national interests in media.
The discussion was also attended, among others, by Prime Minister's Information Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, IMCAB President Basudev Dhar, IMCAB General Secretary Rafiqul Islam Sabuj and National Press Club General Secretary Farida Yasmin.
