BSS-54 Maiden cross border cruise leaves for Kolkata tomorrow

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BSS-54

BANGLA-INDO-CRUISE-START

Maiden cross border cruise leaves for Kolkata tomorrow

DHAKA, Mar 28, 2019 (BSS) – With a view to exploring a new horizon of
tourism, Bangladesh and India are set to launch a maiden cruise service
tomorrow.

“The first ever cross border cruise ‘MV Modhumoti’ with 110 tourists on
board will start at 7 pm tomorrow, although it has a capacity of 750
passengers,” Chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTC)
Pronoy Kumar Kanti told BSS here today.

The government is going to launch the cruise experimentally, he said,
adding, “So we are allowing only 110 passengers on board with providing cabin
facility”. Moreover, a total of 45 staff including crews and masters will be
on board for providing services to the passengers, the chairman said.

“The journey will be cheerful and safe . . . it will take around six or
seven days depending on weather condition,” said Pronoy Kumar Kanti.

In order to make the maiden cross border cruise service historical, an
inaugural ceremony will be held at Pagla VIP Ghat Mary Anderson, Narayanganj.

Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal will inaugurate the event as the chief
guest. State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and State Minister
of Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali will present as special guest.

The two neighboring countries have taken the initiative to strengthen
waterway connectivity on Dhaka-Kolkata-Dhaka route.

Bangladesh and India are going to start the waterway service for the
tourists and cruise service under the agreement of Naval Protocol.

On the same day, ship “Masers RV Bengal Ganga” will start from Kolkata
towards Dhaka.

Modhumoti cruise is expected to reach Kolkata in morning of April 1,
roaming Barishal-Mongla-Sundarbans-Antyhara of Khulna and Holdia route of
India.

Earlier, the shipping ministries of both countries finalised the Standard
Operating Procedure (SoP) for movement of passenger and cruise vessels on the
coastal and designated inland routes between the two neighbouring countries.

BSS/ASG/KAK/RY/20:15 hrs