Dibrugarh, Oct. 5 -- A new chapter in Assam's inland water transport and cross-border trade began on Monday with the launch of cargo vessel operations from the newly developed Bogibeel River Port, also known as the IWAI Bogibeel Terminal, in Dibrugarh.

In a first since Independence, a cargo vessel sailed from Dibrugarh for a foreign destination. The vessel Patkai was flagged off from Bogibeel for Pangaon Port in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The vessel is carrying 540 tonnes of methanol packed in 27 containers and will travel around 783 km along the river route. It is expected to reach Bangladesh in approximately seven days.

Another vessel is scheduled to leave within the next few days. The two vessels will collectively transport 1,080 tonnes of ...