Rajshahi-Murshidabad river route to open soon to strengthen trade and commerce between the two neighbouring countries.
Formal talks are already underway to start a trial run of the riverine vessels and perhaps set up proper ports once both the countries get the benefits.
Meanwhile, the Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton held a meeting Friday last with the Chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Commodore Arif Ahmed Mostafa on opening the riverine protocol route from Rajshahi to Maya and Dhulian of Murshidabad of West Bengal in India.
The meeting also discussed the extension of trade and commerce and the acceleration of economic activities of Rajshahi by opening the river route with India and setting up a river port in Rajshahi beside the river Padma.
RCC Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton has been working on the issue for a long time and held several meetings and discussed with the concerned authorities in this connection. AHM Khairuzzaman Liton in the meeting said if the navigability of the river Padma could be re-established by dredging the riverbed from Dhulian of Murshidabad of India to Aricha of Pabna via Rajshahi and Ishwardi, it is possible to set up an international river port in Rajshahi. Various commodities including pebbles could be imported from India and various commodities from Bangladesh could also be exported to India.
He further said that the introduction of the Rajshahi-Murshidabad River route would strengthen the trade and commerce and the economy of Rajshahi.
BIWTA Chairman Commodore Arif Ahmed Mostafa informed that step has been taken to experimentally start the river route from Maya of Murshidabad of India to Sultanganj of Godagari of Rajshahi. The operation through the route will start soon with clearance from the NBR authorities. Later on, the route will be extended up to Rajshahi.
BIWTA Chairman also handed over a complimentary crest to RCC Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton during the meeting. Among others, the meeting was attended, among others, by Director of BIWTA Muhammad Rafiqul Islam, Director AKM Arif Uddin, Joint Director Mohammad Khurshid Alam and Deputy Director Sharmila Khanam.