After the successful completion of the first leg of journey from Bangladesh to India, Bangladeshi container vessel MV Horbour-1 has recently set sail from Krishnapatnam Port (India) for Chittagong (Bangladesh), carrying cotton, as part of the Coastal Shipping Agreement.
Bangladesh Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan earlier launched the shipping service between the two countries at a ceremony at the New Mooring Container Terminal of Chittagong Port, Bangladesh.
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Speaking at the launch, Khan said, “The Coastal Shipping Agreement was signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bangladesh visit in 2015, and it is being implemented within a year.” The Bangladesh Shipping Minister further went on to add that road communication between Chittagong and Agartala would soon be established by constructing a bridge over the Feni River in the border area.
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As part of the agreement, a standard operating procedure was reportedly signed between India and Bangladesh last November to move commercial cargo vessels between the two countries, stating clearly the provisions and procedures to be followed for such movements. To facilitate easy bilateral trade, many conditions have also been waived by both the countries like vessels from India and Bangladesh upon entering the waters of the concerned country would be treated as domestic vessels. This provision, besides facilitating enhanced bilateral trade, would also play a vital role in addressing the traffic congestion at the border points of the two countries- Petrapole (in India) and Benapole (in Bangladesh).
