Bangladesh assistant high commissioner Tanvir Mansur on Wednesday flagged off the commercial cargo service from Dhubri river port on National Waterway 2 (the Brahmaputra), in an effort to push for transportation of goods through Indian waters to the neighbouring country.

The cargo service marks a new milestone in the constant endeavour to promote economically, more viable and environment-friendly modes of transport between the two countries, Mansur said.

The two Bangladeshi barges — MV Sagar Express and MV Alvahar — will carry 250 tonnes of crushed stone brought from Bhutan.

The consignment was brought from Phuentsholing through dumpers to the Dhubri river port, a distance of around 150km, and then loaded into the two vessels using modern conveyer belt system in two days, according to a port official.

The stone-laden vessels will reach Chilmari port in Bangladesh in the next four to five days, said Atawor Rahman, manager of Export Trade Associate, Bangladesh.

The Centre developed National Waterway 2, a section of the Brahmaputra spread over 891km in lower Assam’s Dhubri, along the border with Bangladesh, and Sadiya in Upper Assam.

Earlier, the first cargo vessel from the Dhubri port was launched on July 12 as a pilot project.

The vessel, MV Aai of Inland Waterways Authority of India, loaded with crushed stone, set sail for Narayanganj in Bangladesh from Dhubri port.