BD, India start cruise services tomorrow
Thursday, 28 March 2019
Bangladesh and India were set to launch cruise service tomorrow (Friday) that would take passengers through the Sunderbans to Dhaka, reports BSS.
After about 70 years, the two neighboring countries took the initiative to strengthen waterway routes, said a press release.
BIWTC's vessel "MV Madhumoti" is scheduled to sail from the VIP terminal at Pagla Ghat at 7pm carrying Kolkata-bound passengers.
The two countries are starting the cruise service for tourists under a protocol signed earlier, said the release.
On the same day, ship "Messrs RV Bengal Ganga" will start from Kolkata towards Dhaka.
In order to make the maiden cross-border cruise service historical, an inaugural ceremony will be held at Pagla VIP Ghat Mary Anderson, Narayanganj.
MV Modhumoti is expected to reach Kolkata at 12 noon of March 31, sailing through Barishal-Mongla-Sundarbans-Antyhara of Khulna and Holdia route of India.
Earlier, the shipping ministries of both countries finalised the Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for movement of passenger and cruise vessels on the coastal and designated inland routes between the two neighbouring countries.
A report by www.indiatimes.com added the cruise will help make optimum use of the inland waterways between the two countries.
The passengers will have the option to travel from Kolkata through the Sundarbans up to Dhaka aboard luxury vessels and come back to India.
This will be carried out by completing border formalities at crossing points in both the countries.
The passengers could otherwise choose to tour Bangladesh after enjoying a stay there. The cruise will traverse through the protocol routes which are maritime navigational routes agreed upon by the two countries in their treaties.
The entire journey can take around six to seven days and will cost around Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000 per person.
The cruise route to Bangladesh involves Namkhana, the Indian part of Sunderbans, the Bangladeshi part of Sunderbans, Barishal, Chandpur, Narayanganj and Dhaka.
The cruise will provide the riders a breathtaking view of three rivers- the Ganges in India, Jamuna in Bangladesh, and Brahmaputra in Assam. Each vessel would be able to accommodate around 50 tourists.