The arrangement to use ports in Bangladesh will cut down logistic costs and provide better transit service

The strengthening of India’s maritime ties with Bangladesh has led to easy transportation of goods from Kolkata to Northeast states through Chattogram Port, said a Sify.com report.

The first trial container ship from Kolkata to Agartala through Chattogram port in Bangladesh was launched by Union Shipping Minister Mansukh Madaviya on July 16, said the report.

The sea route will open a new chapter in India-Bangladesh maritime relations by allowing the use of Chattogram and Mongla ports for the transit of goods from India, sify.com said quoting an ANI report.

The report quoted Chairman of Syama Prasad Mukherjee Port in Kolkata Vineet Kumar as saying that this can cut down the logistic cost and provide better transit service. He further thanked the government of Bangladesh and the Chattogram Port authorities for allowing the Indian cargo to pass through their territory as per the report.

"It is a good relation between the two countries. They are allowing both the ports (Chattogram and Mongla Port) for discharge of Indian transit cargo and taking it to north-eastern states. As per the treaty, we can use Bangladesh waters and our ships can go directly up to Dibrugarh, Pandu, and other terminals in Assam and connect it to Kolkata" Vineet Kumar added, according to the report..

India and Bangladesh have bolstered ties in shipping and water trade in recent years. Cruise services are already active between the two neighboring nations to promote tourism and people to people ties said the report.