As part of the Civil Society Fund by The Asia Foundation, CUTS International and its strategic partners are implementing the project titled ‘Expanding Tradable Benefits of Trans-boundary Water: Promoting Navigational Usage of Inland Waterways in Ganga and Brahmaputra Basins’. As part of this project, CUTS has implemented a study in partnership with Unnayan Shamannay, Bangladesh titled – ‘Prospects of cross-border trade via small mechanised boats between Dhubri (India) and Chilmari (Bangladesh)’.Dhubri in Assam, India and Chilmari in Kurigram, Bangladesh are two economically backward areas located on the banks of river Brahmaputra, which are also along the currently functional routes No. 1 and 2 of India and Bangladesh Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) routes. These two locations are the last river ports of either country, also serving as the last declared customs and immigration points of each country. The goal of this study is to support the facilitation of cross-border local trade using small mechanised boats in the international border area of Dhubri (Assam, India) and Chilmari (Kurigram, Bangladesh) along the banks of the Brahmaputra river for CUTS International Page 2 of 2 improved livelihoods and local economy. The objectives of the study are as follows: i) To analyse social, economic and environmental implications of cross-border value chains using small mechanized boats across Dhubri (Assam, India) and Chilmari (Kurigram, Bangladesh); and ii) To sensitize policy makers about the issues at grassroots and challenges at policy level to facilitate cross border movement of small mechanized boats. For more details, visit project webpage: http://www.cuts-citee.org/IW/

1. Expanding Tradable Benefits of Trans-boundary Water: Promoting
Navigational Usage of Inland Waterways in Ganga and
Brahmaputra Basins
Veena Vidyadharan

2. Outline
• Snapshot of previous work
• Rationale of the current study
• Key Findings
• Challenges and Opportunities

3. In pursuance of Article VIII of the Trade Agreement entered into
between the Government of the Republic of Bangladesh and the
Government of the Republic of India ……, wherein the two
Governments agreed to make mutually beneficial
arrangements for the use of their waterways for commerce
between the two countries for passage of goods between two in
one country through the territory of the other; in accordance
with the laws of the country through the territory of which
goods are moving, it is further agreed as ……..

5. 5
ACTIVE SECTION OF
INDO BANGLADESH
IWT PROTOCOL
DORMANT SECTIONS
OF PROTOCOL ROUTE

6. THE MOST ACTIVE PART OF PROTOCOL ROUTE
Kolkata – Dhaka - Narayangunj
Everyday approximately 10 Bangladeshi vessels enter India for
receiving cargo & 10 other vessels leave India loaded. – 99% is
fly ash.

7. The reasons are:
• Comparatively low navigable depth
• Very low industrial growth
• Absence of return cargo
• Less number of vessels

8. Suggestions from previous work
• Identify shorter stretches and
commodities (on demand-base) with
trade potential between countries
• Support trade by designing and
commissioning suitable vessels and other
infrastructures
• Better coordination among related
ministries

9. Prospects of Cross border-trade between Dhubri and
Chilmari using small mechanised boats
Why Dhubri and Chilmari?
• Last custom stations in both countries along
protocol routes
• Vibrant inland water transport system
• Thousands of small mechanised boats
• Possibilities improving socio economic
condition of local people
• Transboundary cooperation at local level

10. Jogomaya ghat, Dhubri
Chilmari, Bangladesh
• Small
mechanised
boats are of
varying capacity
• Can navigate
even in low draft
• Can be built
locally
• Local boatmen
know the route
very well
• Cheap means of
transportation of
passengers and
goods in Char
areas

11. Brief profile- Chilmari
Population : 114,000
Literacy : 39.7 %
Poverty : 61.1 %

12. Brief profile - Dhubri
• Emerging trade hub
• Bounded by West Bengal,
Meghalaya, Bangladesh
and Bhutan
• Predominant crop- rice
and black gram
Population: 13,94,144
Population density: 641 per km2
Poverty Rate: 41.5%

14. Stone and Lime stone
from Bhutan
Bamboo, Ginger, Pine apple,
Coal from Garo Hills of
Meghalaya , India

15. Tradable commodities
From Dhubri
• Coal
• Stone chips
• Boulders
• Rice
• Bamboo
• Ginger
• Beetal nut
From Chilmari
• Bricks
• Potato
• Jute
• Waste cotton
• Plastics

16. Regulatory Challenges
• Protocol has to allow small mechanised boats to
move in short stretches
• Vessel has to be registered and surveyed (Role of
State administration)
• The manning personnel should carry certificate of
employment /permit with photograph duly
authenticated by concerned officials.
• Certificate of competency for the master and the
driver
• Boxed chamber for customs sealing –
opportunities for boat builders

17. Infrastructural Challenges
• Quarantine and Customs Clearance at
Hatsinghimari … has to be notified
• Approach road for easing loading-
unloading – livelihood opportunities
• Ware housing / cold storage near terminal in
case of perishables
• Multi-modal connectivity (Chilmari vs
Rowmari)

18. Opportunities…..
• Cost and time savings
(fuel, tonnage and time)…interests aspiring
exporters
• Increase in the volume of trade via protocol
route
• Livelihood opportunities for local people
• New bridge coming up in
Phulbari…prospective way of engaging the
boatmen
• Will reduce the volume of informal trade

19. LCS stations near Dhubri

20. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Major exported products of India to Bangladesh through Mankachar LCS
(values in ton)
Stone
coal
Ginger F
Ginger D
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Major imported products of India from Bangladesh through Mankachar LCS
(Values in KGS)
CEMENT
OTHER TABLEWARE & KITCHENWARE OF
PLASTICS
OTHR HOUSHOLD ANDTOILT ARTCLS OF
PLSTCS NES
YARN WASTE (INCL THREAD WASTE)
OTHER COTTON WASTE
Source: DGICS, 2018

21. 74259
58 0 84
81008
97167
0
3260
38895
30359
166
6816
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
Pakaur Stone Stone Builders Other Monumental Or
Building Stone Nes
Other Coal Pulvrsd but
Ntagldmrtd
Major Products Exported from India to Bangladesh
through Golakanj LCS (values in tonnes)
2016 2017 2018 (Jan to April)
Source: DGICS, 2018

22. The Economics….
• Fuel: 70- 80 litres for round trip
• Transportation charge: The average cost of truck
load coming from Dhaka to Dhubri by road is
about 45000 INR (4500/tonne)
• From Dhaka to Mahendraganj -17000 INR
Mahendraganj to Singhimari- 10000 INR
Singhimari to Dhubri by boat – 9000 INR
Time: Saves time incurred in multiple
loading/unloading and for border procedures

23. Vessels of 500MT capacity carrying diesel regularly
come from Narayanganj and Baghabari to Chilmari
where two dumb POL storage barge are stationed

24. Site for Multimodal Terminal in Jogighopa

25. Social implications

26. Social Implications
They live in the erosion prone bank of
the river. Not aware of Protocol and
Indian vessels.. But said unanimously
that they will be benefitted due to
cheaper price of consumer goods and
newer opportunities

27. Way forward….
• Exploring other transboundary stretches for
trade potential
• Karimganj- Assam (Protocol route 3)
• Gomati river- Tripura (Protocol route 3)
• Karnaphuli river: Mizoram

28. THANK YOU