NILAMBAZAR, Nov 28 - The import and export of goods through Kushiyara waterways have been started based on the international trade agreement between India and Bangladesh. But due to the lack of depth of the Kushiyara river, the international trade has come to a standstill.
Most recently, a ship carrying cement arrived at the Karimganj Steamer Ghat from Narayanganj in Bangladesh.
On the other hand, five vessel cargoes came to Karimganj to carry limestone to Bangladesh but only two cargoes managed to return to that country with 125 tonnes of limestone. An official of the Assam Import and Export Association said as per the announcement of the Chief Minister of Assam during the Barak Namami programme, the dredging was done at the Badarpur Ghat on the Barak river but no dredging was done in the Kushiyara river in Karimganj. As a result, cargo ships are being stranded in the Kushiyara. For this, the vessel cargoes from Bangladesh had to return with only 125 tonnes of limestone instead of 500 tonnes.
As a result, the import and export through waterways have become difficult in the current dry season.
Meanwhile, the local people alleged that although the international trade between India and Bangladesh through Karimganj has already resumed, no renovation of the Kushiara Steamer Ghat has been done. Other facilities for loading or unloading goods from ships, including jetties, were also not installed.
