First International Cargo Shipment from Upper Assam to Bangladesh via Brahmaputra
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off the first international cargo shipment from upper Assam to a foreign port since India's independence in 1947. The historic shipment involved 540 metric tons of methanol produced by state-owned Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd (APCL) at Namrup, transported aboard vessel DLB Patkai pushed by tug Kushal Konwar from Bogibeel Terminal in Dibrugarh. Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma joined the ceremony virtually.
The methanol shipment is bound for Pangaon Port in Dhaka, Bangladesh, covering a total distance of 1,300 kilometers. The vessel will travel approximately 768 kilometers down National Waterway-2 on the Brahmaputra River in India to the Indo-Bangladesh border, then continue along the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR) to reach Narayanganj, Dhaka.
This voyage serves as a test of the Brahmaputra's viability as a commercial freight corridor linking Northeast India to overseas markets, with regular methanol shipments to Bangladesh already planned. The shipment became possible after customs and immigration complexes were recently established at Bogibeel and Dhubri.
Historical Context and Infrastructure Development
Dibrugarh was historically among the busiest river ports in eastern India, with government steamers reaching the town from Calcutta (now Kolkata) by 1856. The 1947 partition cut this route, forcing Assam's goods to pass through East Pakistan to reach Calcutta. A 1950 earthquake disturbed the riverbed at Dibrugarh, and regular bookings from Dibrugarh Ghat stopped in 1954, with the ghat closing completely on October 15, 1956. The 1965 India-Pakistan war further suspended cross-border river trade.
The 891-kilometer stretch of Brahmaputra from Sadiya to Dhubri was declared National Waterway-2 in 1988, but regular cargo service only began in December 2017 with cement movements from Pandu to Dhubri. Recent developments include Tata Steel barges reaching Pandu through Bangladesh in February 2022, MV Ganga Vilas river cruise sailing from Varanasi to Dibrugarh through Bangladesh in 2023, and the Bogibeel passenger and cargo terminal opening in February 2024 after its foundation stone was laid in July 2023.
Investment and Growth in Waterways
According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), cargo on India's national waterways has increased significantly from 18 million metric tons in fiscal 2013-14 to 218 million metric tons in 2025-26. More than 68 billion rupees (approximately $770 million) is being invested in waterways across Northeast India, including development of National Waterway-2, a ship repair facility at Pandu, and last-mile connectivity to Pandu Port.
The 'Jalvahak' cargo incentive program was launched in December 2024 to promote waterway transportation. Union Minister Sonowal emphasized the environmental benefits, stating that "every ton we move on the river means less fuel burnt and fewer trucks on the highway." India is also working with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar on regional waterway links.
Participants and Significance
The event was attended by Assam state ministers Charan Boro, Bimal Borah, and Sushanta Borgohain, along with Terash Gowalla, Member of Rajya Sabha. State legislators Prasanta Phukan (MLA, Dibrugarh LAC) and Chakradhar Gogoi (MLA, Khowang LAC) were also present, along with IWAI's Chief Engineer AK Bansal and APCL's Chairman Bikul Ch. Deka, plus officials from APCL, IWAI, and Government of Assam.
Union Minister Sonowal described this as reclaiming Dibrugarh's historical glory as a great river port, combining world-class infrastructure with heritage preservation. The shipment represents a significant milestone in regional connectivity and trade development between India and Bangladesh.