Negotiations are underway to add four more sea ports to India and Bangladesh to strengthen bilateral coastal trade. The proposed ports are Matarbari and Muktarpur ports (Munshiganj) in Bangladesh, Orissa and Kamarajar ports (Chennai) in India. At present, under the bilateral coastal shipping agreement, Chattogram, Mongla, Khulna, Payra, Narayanganj, Pangaon and Ashuganj ports in Bangladesh are directly connected by sea to the Chennai, Krishnapatnam, Kakinara, Vishakhapatnam, Paradeep, Haldia, and Kolkata ports in India. According to senior officials at the Ministry of Shipping, Bangladesh and India are now working on amending the Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) of the shipping agreement. After the amendment, the addition of four new ports to the port of call will officially be announced.
