Bangladesh
Padma Seaport Padma seaport to have trial run within a month
Dhaka, October 13: A seaport is being constructed on the Padma River at Sultanganj in Godagari upazila of Rajmahi district to transport goods from India by river. It is expected that the trial run of the shipment will be tested on this route in the next one month.
On Monday, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Chairman Commodore Golam Sadeq visited a possible site in Godagari.
In a speedboat, he visited the Indian border area of the Padma River.
He later exchanged views with local administration officials and public representatives.
According to BIWTA sources, India and Bangladesh have agreed in principle to resume trade on this waterway of the Padma River.
Plans are afoot to send a test invoice within a month.
BIWTA officials are now reviewing the waterway's infrastructure.
Officials said the launch of the waterway would facilitate the country's trade with India because a huge amount of goods can be transported together by water
Meanwhile, an 78-km waterway from Rajshahi to Dhulian in Murshidabad in West Bengal has been approved but is not effective.
Now BIWTA has taken the initiative to shorten the new route from Sultanganj in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi to Maya seaport in Murshidabad.
The distance of this road is only 18 kilometers. Cargo ships will cross the Padma river in a horizontal way.
During the dry season, 200-300 tons of goods can be transported per ship.
BIWTA has already requested the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to set up a customs office in Godagari area.
According to the concerned sources, Murshidabad's 'Pakur stone' is being used in big projects like Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
It is a very good quality stone. It costs more to import stones by road.
The Godagari-Maya waterway will be used mainly for importing Pakur stone.
Speaking as the chief guest at an exchange meeting organized by the upazila administration after inspecting the river, BIWTA chairman Commodore Golam Sadeq said, "Both countries will benefit if the waterway is opened through the Godagari border."
"Today we saw everything, including the navigability of the river. There are very good possibilities. We want to launch this waterway on a trial basis within a month."
