Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: A cargo vessel will sail from Dibrugarh to Bangladesh for the first time since Independence. This move breathes life into a trade route dormant for nearly eight decades. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal pushed for this shift. It centers on the new Bogibeel Inland Water Transport Terminal.
Two vessels will haul methanol produced by Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited from Namrup. Each vessel holds 27 containers, with 20 tonnes of methanol packed into every one. Combined, they carry 1,080 tonnes. They will cover the 783-km trip to the Bangladesh border in about seven days. The Inland Water Transport Department of the Assam Government provided the vessels. These boats sat idle for 30 years before being leased and repaired at Pandu Ghat in Guwahati.
APL Chairman Bikul Deka confirmed the progress on social media. "Today, our vessel DLB Patkai arrived at Bogibeel from Guwahati," Deka wrote. The terminal now features a jetty, warehouse, and customs facilities. Construction continues on a lighthouse and a regional center of excellence.
Planners expect this route to benefit various industries. Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited, coal suppliers, and tea estates could use this path to reach international markets. Local farmers may also find new buyers for Assam lemon, Bhut Jolokia, and black pepper. Dibrugarh was a massive trade hub during the British era. Officials hope this new terminal restores that status.
Updated at 27th September 2026 at 10:00pm
The methanol shipment is bound for Dhaka, Bangladesh. Deka noted that he knows of no other commercial inland water transport activity moving locally manufactured goods out of Dibrugarh since the British departure.
During the colonial era, East India Company cargo vessels relied on these same Brahmaputra routes to move goods to various parts of the country and abroad. Officials now claim Dibrugarh ranked among the highest revenue-generating districts in the nation during that period. Deka expects this shift to offer a more economical way to haul freight and jumpstart regional import and export activity.
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