Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb on Thursday received the first consignment of goods, which was shipped from Bangladesh to Tripura.

The consignment was shipped from Haldia port in West Bengal to Agartala via the Chittagong port in Bangladesh.

The Chief Minister received the consignment at Akhaura Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Agartala.

This development opens a new chapter in the Indo-Bangladesh maritime cooperation.

The transport of consignment has been made possible through the signing of the India-Bangladesh Coastal Agreement in June 2020.

"The new transhipment route – Haldia-Chittagoing-Akhaura-Agartala – will not only benefit Tripura but also the other states of the northeast," said CM Biplab Deb.

"The consignment comprising four containers that came from Haldia to Agartala via the Chittagong port has brought a lot of hope for the people of Tripura," Deb said.

The Tripura CM also heaped praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for opening the Chittagong port to the northeast.

"The distance between Haldia and Agartala via Assam is 1,600 km, but the new coastal route of Haldia-Chittagong- Akhaura-Agartala runs only 600 km," Deb pointed out.

"I have heard that the parties that have brought the four containers through the new coastal route have saved Rs 50,000," he added.

"The new route will be more cost-effective once the Feni bridge is made operational. An amount of Rs 800 can be saved against one MT of goods," he further said.

"Connectivity has got a major fillip during the past two years. Tripura is now well connected by rail and roads," the Tripura CM added.

"Today, the state has received the first goods consignment by utilising transhipment facilities," he further said.

"Due to heavy rain and a steep rise in the water level of the Comilla in Bangladesh, the floating jetty at Srimantapur in Sonamura could not be inaugurated. But it would be operational soon," the CM assured.

It may be noted that the cargo vessel had sailed from Haldia and headed towards Chittagong on July 19.

On July 22, four containers ferried by the vessel were loaded in four trailers that reached Akhaura on July 23.