BD-India regular coastal shipping service soon

All set to start regular coastal shipping service between Bangladesh and India.

This may happen after the forthcoming visit of Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood AIi to New Delhi, reports bdnews24.com.

Till date, there is only a riverine protocol between the two countries for movement of small vessels on rivers flowing in both the countries.

Starting of the regular coastal shipping service will not only reduce burden on road network but will also increase trade between the two countries.

Indian government sources told the news agency that commercial trial run of vessels on India-Bangladesh coastal routes will begin in October.

 "Regular coastal shipping between Bangladesh ports and India's eastern ports such as Paradip and Haldia may commence by end of this year," one Indian official said but was not willing to be named.