DHAKA, Oct 19, 2022 (BSS) - A vessel named 'M/v Trans Samudera' today left Chattogram Port carrying Indian transit container transported from the Northeastern State of India Meghalaya.

This cargo movement is part of the trial runs under an agreement to use Chattogram and Mongla Ports for the transit of goods to and from India via Bangladesh territory, said an Indian High Commission press release here.

The agreement was signed between Indian and Bangladesh in 2018.

"This is a step forward in realizing the commitment reiterated at the level of the two Prime Ministers (Bangladesh and India) during the visit of Hon'ble Premier of Bangladesh to India in September 2022," read the statement.

The trial run is being undertaken by Tata Steel and CJ Darcl Logistics on the route Dawki-Tamabil-Chattogram, it added.

The Indian high commission said the transit or transshipment of goods under the agreement would reduce both cost and time for transportation of goods to Northeastern States of India.

It will also create economic gains for the Bangladesh's insurance, transport and finance industries as only local trucks will be used for transshipment, it added.

There are eight approved routes for transit of goods under the agreement, namely, Chattogram/Mongla Port to Agartala via Akhaura, Chattogram/Mongla Port to Dawki via Tamabil, Chattogram/Mongla Port to Sutarkandi via Sheola, Chattogram/Mongla Port to Srimantapur via Bibirbazar and vice versa on all four routes, said the release.

During the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in 2019, a SOP was signed to operationalize the agreement.

The first trial movement under this agreement on the route Chattogram-Akhaura-Agartala was successfully conducted in July 2020 wherein four containers, two each of TMT steel and pulses, were delivered to ICP Agartala from Kolkata through Chattogram.

Today's trial run marks the completion of all trial runs on all approved routes under this agreement, said the Indian mission here.

Following this completion of the trial runs, it said, necessary permanent standing order or notification would now be issued by the Bangladesh government for the operationalization and regular movement of goods under this Agreement.