Port Hinterland Connectivity, the Role of inland waterways a Bangladesh Perspective.

Abstract

Bangladesh is becoming more and more a trading nation. The latest data of World Bank shows the share of import-export is 40% of the GDP. As international trade has a strong linkage with maritime trade, the same is observed here is Bangladesh as well. Sharp increase in the figure of cargo handling both bulk and containers in the maritime ports indicates the adequacy of the significance of international trade in economic development. In order to keep pace with the incremental trend of international trade in parallel to the maritime port development its hinterland connectivity is also necessary to establish requiring huge investment in different modes of transports like road, rail and inland waterways. A country with high population density as well as the largest delta of the world would be more cost and environment effective to diverse more and more cargo to inland waterways.

This paper has been structured by reviewing the importance of hinterland connectivity in relation to port operation, port efficiency as a whole port development followed by a brief discussion of the international trade pattern of Bangladesh. Later on a comparative analysis of the performance of different modes of surface transport in facilitating the hinterland services of the Maritime Ports has been highlighted here. Finally comparative advantages of inland waterways to compliments other modes of transport as well as a logistical approach of overcoming the drawbacks it possesses.