Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to Flag Off First International Cargo Voyage from Dibrugarh to Bangladesh

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal will flag off the first international cargo voyage at the Bogibeel terminal in Dibrugarh at 11:00 AM on October 5, 2026. Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma will participate in the ceremony as the chief guest via virtual medium.

Under this historic journey, methanol produced by Assam Petrochemicals Limited (APCL) will be transported from Bogibeel to the Pangaon port in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This transport will be conducted via National Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra River) and the India-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR). This marks the first occasion since independence that a cargo shipment will be sent from Dibrugarh to a foreign port via waterways.

This initiative is part of the government's efforts to develop inland waterways in the Northeast region as an affordable, environment-friendly, and efficient mode of transport. Prior to independence, the Brahmaputra River served as the primary link connecting Upper Assam to global markets, with Dibrugarh being a major river port in the region; this launch symbolizes the restoration of that old connectivity.

The ceremony will be attended by special guests including Assam Government Transport Minister Charan Bora, Labour Welfare Minister Rameshwar Teli, and Minister for Industries, Commerce and Public Enterprises Bimal Bora. Additionally, Rajya Sabha MP Terash Gowala, MLAs from various constituencies, Chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) Sushil Kumar Lohani, and APCL Chairman Bikul Chandra Deka are expected to be present.

The event is being organized by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the IWAI in collaboration with the Government of Assam and APCL. The program will be broadcast live on IWAI's official YouTube channel, “IWAI_ShipMin”.