The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is pushing for the development of waterway connections to increase trade between India and Bangladesh. FICCI suggested the development of infrastructure that would improve waterway connectivity between Bangladesh and India's northeastern states.

According to Mr. Biswajit Chakraborty, FICCI director for the northeast chapter, developing waterway connectivity would improve trade and transportation and benefit the lives and livelihoods of people living across the Meghna basin. Businesses also stand to benefit from the convenience and predictability that technical infrastructure would bring to trade processes. Mr. Chakraborty was speaking at a virtual discussion on "Engaging the Private Sector in Reviving Waterways in the Meghna Basin for Trade and Transit."

Development must also consider the need to address siltation caused by deforestation upstream of the Meghna, added Mr. Chakraborty. "Comprehensive approaches of large-scale afforestation, coupled with larger river training exercises and building of the required infrastructure could result in long-term benefits for the region,” he said.

Bangladesh has 57 transboundary rivers, of which 54—including Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Teesta—are shared with India and three with Myanmar.

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