By : Neha Dhyani
Updated : Mar 10, 2022, 9:40
The Ashuganj Port is a milestone in India-Bangladesh trade relations. It is a prominent industrial river port of the Bengal delta in East Bangladesh. It is also one of Eastern South Asia's busiest transhipment centres. It has earned the distinction of Port of Call for its strategic role in enabling goods transfer between Indias various parts through Bangladesh.
The port enables multi-modal connectivity to government and private logistics providers in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) manages the Ashuganj Port.
The Ashuganj river port hosts an average of 250 to 300 vessels every day. The port connects Haldia in Kolkata to the northeastern parts of India through Bangladesh.
An Inland Container Terminal (ICT) is being developed in Mohrompara, Ashuganj, with funds received from the Indian Line of Credit (LoC). The project's 25-26 acres land acquisition is already finished, and the landowners have received the compensation.
Besides the ICT, other important infrastructures developed in the area include the Ashuganj Fertiliser Chemical Company Limited (AFCCL), Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL), and the Ashuganj power station.
GTCL uses the terminal to control the gas pressure in all areas of Bangladesh. Ashuganj power plant is a 1777 Megawatt thermal power plant that meets almost 25% of Bangladesh's total electricity demand. AFCCL is a key producer of fertilisers and chemicals in Bangladesh.
The Government of India and the Government of Bangladesh entered into an agreement to use each other's waterways under Article VIII of the Trade Agreement signed between the authorities of both countries on 6th June 2015. The Trade Agreement facilitates the seamless passage of goods and commerce between two countries using each country's waterways.
After careful deliberations, the authorities approved the following routes between India and Bangladesh through the Ashuganj Port:
The Ashuganj Port is a transhipment port for transporting cargo from various parts of India to the Indian state of Tripura. Presently, the cargo is transported from Ashuganj Port to Tripura and other northeastern states by road.
In 2020, the Indian government entered into an agreement with Bangladesh to build a four-lane highway between Ashuganj River Port and Akhaura Land Port. A rail link between Akhaura and Agartala is also in the pipeline.
After the completion of the Akhaura-Agartala rail link, the travel time and transportation costs between Ashuganj Port and Tripura will reduce significantly.
Ashuganj Port is a game-changer in India-Bangladesh trade relations. The port has transformed the life and livelihood of everyone associated with the port.
Ashuganj Port is a prominent industrial river port of the Bengal delta in East Bangladesh. It is also one of Eastern South Asia's busiest transhipment centres.
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) manages the Ashuganj port.
Besides the Inland Container Terminal, other important infrastructures developed in the Ashuganj area include the Ashuganj Fertiliser Chemical Company Limited (AFCCL), Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL), and the Ashuganj power station.
The Ashuganj Port is a transhipment port for transporting cargo from various parts of India to the Indian state of Tripura.
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