The long-delayed coastal shipping line between Bangladesh and Myanmar will finally get underway in March, with the aim to boost bilateral trade, according to Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed. The coastal vessels were supposed to be launched a year ago but it was delayed for political tension in both the countries. “Everything is now at the final stage; we are ready to offer our inland ports for use by vessels from Myanmar,” Ahmed said, adding that vessels from the neighbouring country
would be allowed to use four ports.
Both the countries have marked Chittagong, Mongla, Narayanganj and Teknaf ports in Bangladesh and Yangon, Pathein, Sittwe and Maungtaw ports in Myanmar for use.
Bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Myanmar stands at US $ 100 million per annum; both the countries are hoping to augment the figure to US $ 500 million with the introduction of the shipping line. “Bangladesh and Myanmar re-established the Dhaka-Yangon air connectivity last December. Our next target is road connectivity,” said Ahmed, who led Bangladesh at the seventh meeting of the Bangladesh-Myanmar Joint Trade Commission, held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar recently.
