A 13-member delegation from Bangladesh visited India from July 9-12 to explore transhipment possibilities for Exim cargo through Indian ports on the East Coast. In line with the India-Bangladesh Shipping Secretaries Level Talks held in Dhaka last December, the delegation toured ports in Chennai, Krishnapatnam, Vishakhapatnam, Kolkata, and Haldia to evaluate technical feasibility, commercial viability, and infrastructure.

Accompanied by officials from the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, the Director General of Shipping, and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, the delegation discussed the potential for starting river cruise services between Dhaka and Vishakhapatnam.

Director (Traffic) IWAI, A K Bansal, informed the delegates that a cruise service already existed on the IBP route and could be extended to coastal routes from Bangladesh to Vishakhapatnam and other ports on the East Coast, as the MoU and Protocol for passengers and cruise on the IBP route were already in place.

Discussions also covered the possibility of using inland vessels on the IBP route for returning cargo from Bangladesh to Haldia/Kolkata. The Indian side agreed to provide data analysis comparing Indian ports with transhipment hubs like Colombo, Singapore, and Port Klang. The Bangladeshi delegation planned to hold a stakeholders meeting in Dhaka to review the findings.