Inland waterway transit across the Northeast reached a major milestone on Monday as the first commercial cargo journey from Dibrugarh in Assam to Dhaka in Bangladesh since Independence began from the Bogibeel River Port. The transit marks the first direct international cargo shipment originating from Dibrugarh along National Waterway-2 on the Brahmaputra River.
Flagging Off Vessel Patkai at Bogibeel Terminal
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal formally flagged off the cargo ship named Patkai from the Bogibeel Terminal. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended the launch virtually. The initiative establishes fresh momentum for industrial transport, opening enhanced trade and logistics corridors between the Northeast and Bangladesh.
Consignment Details and 783 km River Transit
The vessel Patkai is transporting 27 specialized containers carrying 540 tonnes of industrial methanol manufactured by Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited. Navigating approximately 783 km down the Brahmaputra River, the ship is projected to complete the voyage to Bangladesh in around seven days. The route utilizes National Waterway-2 to link directly into the established Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route.
Reviving an Ancient Riverine Trade Channel
Operations will expand shortly with a second cargo vessel scheduled to set sail over the coming days, taking the combined shipment between both vessels to 1,080 tonnes of methanol. Prior to Independence, the Brahmaputra river system served as Upper Assam's primary conduit to international commercial hubs, with Dibrugarh operating as a key trade port. This departure revitalizes a historic riverine link that had remained inactive for decades.
