Bangladesh and India are going to open the Rajshahi-Murshidabad river route on Monday (February 11) aiming at strengthening trade and commerce between the two neighboring countries.
Sultanganj River port in Rajshahi’s Godagari upazila will be connected to the Maya Port of Murshidabad, India, via the Padma River. The river port will open under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) as part of the trade agreement between the countries, said Muhammad Shah Alam, sub-assistant engineer of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury will inaugurate the river port in the presence of the Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Pranay Verma.
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The protocol was signed in 1972 and renewed on March 31, 2020, to ensure that both countries benefit from their waterways for trade and commerce, he added.
The distance of this route is only 17km. During the dry season, 200-300 tonnes of goods can be transported in each cargo. During monsoon, transportation of goods will be a bit difficult due to the strong current in the river.
The river port is expected to generate local job opportunities and lower the prices of different commodities due to the low transportation costs. The port will primarily be used to import stones, fly ash, stones, coal, fruits, and spices from India, as well as to export jute and RMG products.
Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton said the government has plans to extend the river route to Mongla port and conduct joint capital dredging for the river’s navigability by India and Bangladesh.
India And Bangladesh’s Transboundary Waterways
India and Bangladesh share up to 54 rivers and a transboundary network of approximately 3,500 km of navigable waterways. These waterways are part of the drainage system of the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) basin. The GBM basin drains an area of about 1.75 million square kilometers and supports the livelihoods of over 600 million people. It is also the third largest source of freshwater in the world’s oceans.
Bangladesh has a dense network of inland waterways, totaling about 24,000 km, which cover about 7% of the country’s surface area. These waterways are used for transportation, trade, tourism, and fishing. However, only about 5,968 km of these waterways are navigable by mechanized vessels during the monsoon season, and this reduces to about 3,865 km during the dry season. The navigability of the waterways depends on the availability and distribution of water from the transboundary rivers, as well as the maintenance of the channels and infrastructure.
India and Bangladesh have been cooperating on the development and use of their transboundary waterways since 1972 when they signed the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade. The protocol allows the movement of goods and passengers through designated routes and ports in both countries and facilitates regional connectivity and economic integration. The protocol has been revised and expanded several times, most recently in 2020, to include new routes, ports, and vessels. The protocol also enables the operation of river cruises, such as the one launched by India in 2023, which covers a distance of 4,200 km along the Ganges, the Brahmaputra, and the Meghna.
The transboundary waterways between India and Bangladesh offer immense opportunities for cooperation and mutual benefit, as well as challenges and risks that require joint management and resolution. The two countries have established various mechanisms and platforms, such as the Joint Rivers Commission, the Joint Technical Working Group, and the Joint Consultative Commission, to address the issues and interests related to their shared rivers. The two countries have also signed several agreements and memoranda of understanding on various aspects of water resources cooperation, such as water sharing, pollution mitigation, river bank protection, flood management, and basin management.
Key features of the protocol include specified routes, such as Kolkata-Chandpur-Pandu-Silghat-Kolkata and Kolkata-Chandpur-Karimganj-Kolkata, and five Ports of Call on each side to support vessels engaged in inter-country trade. The protocol permits vessels to purchase fuels and essential supplies at designated points, and voyage permission must be obtained from the Competent Authorities appointed by the respective governments.
Common freight rates, fixed mutually by Competent Authorities, apply to operators in both countries for inter-country trade and transit traffic.
India and Bangladesh have pledged to develop the transboundary waterways in an environmentally friendly way. They have chosen to dredge the riverbeds instead of building dams or reservoirs, which could have adverse impacts on the ecology and hydrology of the rivers.
India is collaborating with Bangladesh to develop certain segments of the IBP (India-Bangladesh Protocol) route. This includes the enhancement of navigability in critical and shallow stretches between Sirajganj and Daikhowa on protocol routes no 1 & 2 and between Ashuganj and Zakiganj on protocol routes no 3 & 4. The objective is to ensure year-round navigability with a Least Available Depth of 2.5 meters.
Concurrently, fairway development activities are being undertaken on NW-97 in the Sunderbans (a 172 km route from Namkhana to AtharaBankiKhal in West Bengal) to facilitate seamless vessel navigation on the Indo-Bangladesh protocol route.
To minimize the need for dredging, the two countries have also imposed some restrictions on the vessels and the shipping channel. Only vessels that have a draft of less than three meters can use the waterway. The width of the shipping channel has been limited to 45 meters, even though the rivers can be much wider at full flow.
The transboundary waterways between the two countries are part of the Eastern Waterways Grid. The Eastern Waterways Grid is based on the existing 10 protocol routes, which are waterways that both countries can use for transit or trade. The Waterways Grid will link the rivers of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal, benefitting over 600 million people in the region.
Potential of Inland Waterways
Bangladesh and India’s transboundary waterways offer immense opportunities for enhancing connectivity, trade, and tourism between the two countries. The two countries have been cooperating on the development and use of their inland waterways to facilitate regional integration and economic development.
The inland waterways have several advantages over other modes of transport, such as road and rail. They are more cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environment-friendly. They also reduce congestion and pollution on land and provide access to remote and underdeveloped areas.
The inland waterways also have a huge potential for boosting tourism, especially river cruises, which can offer a unique and scenic experience to travelers. In 2023, India launched the longest motorized river cruise in the world, which covers a distance of 4,200 km along the Ganges, the Brahmaputra, and the Meghna rivers. The cruise passes through India and Bangladesh and showcases the rich cultural and natural heritage of the region.
However, the inland waterways also face some challenges and constraints, such as low water availability and depth, high siltation and erosion, lack of infrastructure and maintenance, and inadequate coordination and cooperation among the stakeholders. To overcome these challenges, the two countries have been working together to improve the navigability, safety, and efficiency of the waterways, and to address the environmental and social concerns.
Bangladesh-India Trade Relation
Bangladesh and India share a profound historical, linguistic, and cultural bond that goes beyond a mere strategic partnership. India swiftly recognized Bangladesh’s independence in December 1971, establishing diplomatic ties and fostering a lasting relationship based on equality, trust, sovereignty, and mutual understanding.
In the fiscal year 2022-2023, Bangladesh exported a diverse array of 1,155 commodities to India, totaling US$ 2.02 billion, a slight increase from US$ 1.97 billion in FY22. Notable exports include RMG cotton (US$ 510 million), cotton fabrics, made-ups, etc. (US$ 153 million), RMG manmade fibers (US$ 142 million), spices (US$ 125 million), and jute (US$ 103 million). April-May 2023 alone saw exports amounting to US$ 278 million, and these arrangements are expected to boost trade and commerce growth.
On the import side, Bangladesh holds a significant position as India’s largest trading partner in the subcontinent, representing 12% of total imports. The overall trade turnover for the fiscal year reached US$ 14.22 billion. Imports from India to Bangladesh included 6,050 commodities, totaling US$ 12.20 billion in FY23, compared to US$ 16.15 billion in FY22. Key imports encompass various commodities (US$ 1.17 billion), cotton yarn (US$ 1.02 billion), petroleum products (US$ 816 million), other cereals (US$ 556 million), and cotton fabrics, made-ups, etc. (US$ 541 million). In April-May 2023 alone, imports from India reached US$ 1.67 billion.
