The relationship of Bangladesh with India is at an all-time high with the recent experimental connectivity with Tripura via waterway. This will be able to bring massive benefits as far as export and import of goods and produces between the two countries are concerned. On top of this, another new water link is being planned and might soon be realised that will connect to Murshidabad in West Bengal.
This inland water trade and transit route will bring forth new ways of travelling and transporting goods between the two countries. Successful running of both the waterways will open up new avenues for economic development in both countries with Bangladesh playing an important role.
To this end, large-scale infrastructural development is needed in both sides of the water routes so that proper and safe shipping of goods can take place. Also, this arrangements must be made so that faster and more ships and water transports can dock and be in service at a time.
This hints about Bangladesh government’s focus
on building relationships with India and bringing
the proximity between the two nations
to a much closer range
Recently, both the countries have agreed in principle to launch trade in this river route, as per a report published in this daily. This hints about Bangladesh government’s focus on building relationships with India and bringing the proximity between the two nations to a much closer range. The report further explicates that there is a 78km long waterway from Rajshahi to Dhulian in Murshidabad of West Bengal that has already been approved, but is not yet active. This means there is a lot of trade opportunities being missed out on.
However, being a basin, the area around the Padma becomes especially harsh during the monsoon and thus poses a risk to the water transports playing in that area. It can thus be surmised that the main transportation time for goods will be the dry season when the weather is much calmer.
Above all, we are happy to finally see waterways springing up in the country connecting inland water-bodies with India and showing the promise of possible bolstering of future trade possibilities.
