Sarbananda Sonowal to Flag Off First International Cargo Voyage from Dibrugarh

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal will flag off the first international cargo voyage from Dibrugarh on 5 October 2026 at Bogibeel Terminal. The ship will carry methanol to Dhaka, Bangladesh, through National Waterway-2. It is the first time since Independence that a cargo consignment sails from Dibrugarh to a foreign port.

Maiden Methanol Voyage from Bogibeel to Dhaka via National Waterway-2

The flag-off will take place at 11:00 AM at Bogibeel Terminal, Dibrugarh. Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma will join the ceremony virtually as Chief Guest.

1. Cargo: Methanol produced by Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited (APCL)
2. Start point: Bogibeel Terminal, Dibrugarh
3. Destination: Pangaon Port, Dhaka, Bangladesh
4. Route: National Waterway-2 (river Brahmaputra) and the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR)

Who Is Organising the Event?

The event is organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), together with the Government of Assam and APCL. Assam ministers Charan Boro, Rameswar Teli and Bimal Borah will attend as Special Guests. IWAI Chairman Sushil Kumar Lohani and APCL Chairman Bikul Ch. Deka are also expected. The ceremony will be streamed live on IWAI's official YouTube channel, IWAI_ShipMin.

First International Cargo Voyage Marks a New Chapter for Assam's River Trade Since Independence

Before Independence, the Brahmaputra was Upper Assam's main link to the markets of the world, and Dibrugarh was one of the region's most important river ports. This voyage brings that link back after many decades.

Why Inland Waterways Matter?

The government is pushing inland waterways as a cheaper, greener and more efficient way to move goods in the Northeast. Cargo moved by river can reduce transport cost and road congestion, and it creates new trade routes with neighbouring countries like Bangladesh. The voyage also gives local industry, such as APCL, direct access to an international market.