Bhutan's first trial transit shipment stuck at Burimari over India's pending approval

Bhutan's first trial transit shipment through the Chattogram Port has been stranded at the Burimari land port due to not receiving the required clearance in time from Indian authorities.

The consignment reached Burimari early Saturday and was supposed to move into India through the Chengrabandha land port. 

Confirming the matter, Executive Director of Manuma Shipping Lines Mohammad Rafsan said highway congestion also contributed to the setback.

According to him, Indian Customs had asked for an additional confirmation letter from Bhutanese authorities. 

With offices in Bhutan closed over the weekend, the document could not be issued, leaving the shipment idle at the border.

The freight forwarding agent said the letter is expected to reach Indian officials once offices reopen on Monday, after which the cargo should be able to enter India.

"The shipment was supposed to reach Burimari on Friday. Because of traffic it arrived early Saturday instead. With the weekly holiday, the approval letter didn't reach Chengrabandha on Saturday or Sunday, which caused the delay," Rafsan also said.

Rafsan added that all customs procedures on the Bangladesh side have already been completed. 

"We hope to send the shipment across on Monday once Indian authorities receive the letter," he added.

The trial shipment carries 6,530 kilograms of consumer goods including shampoo, dried palm, iced tea, chocolate and juice for Bhutan's Abit Trading. 

It is the first cargo being moved under the Agreement on the Movement of Traffic-in-Transit signed on 22 March 2023, which allows Bhutan to use Bangladesh's ports and roads to access global markets.

The container arrived in Chattogram on 22 September but remained stuck for nearly two months as different government agencies worked through the approvals. 

Those clearances were issued last week, allowing Bhutan's local agent NM Trading Corporation to begin the release process on Sunday last.

Under the protocol, the cargo traveled from Chattogram to Burimari, and then it will cross into India through Changrabandha before heading to Phuentsholing. 

The corridor requires transit through Indian territory at each step, which is why Indian Customs' clearance is essential.

Delays also stemmed from coordination gaps. Bhutan loaded the shipment on 8 September and notified Dhaka, but the container reached Chattogram before Bangladesh's commerce ministry could relay the information to the National Board of Revenue. 

Customs instructions came on 17 November, and transport toll guidance three days later.

Bangladesh will earn fees from Chattogram Customs, Chattogram Port and the Road Transport and Highways Division. These include document processing, scanning, security, escort and weight-based road charges. 

For this 6.5-tonne shipment, tolls and charges amount to several thousand taka across the 684-kilometre corridor to Burimari.

The current delay at Burimari is expected to ease once Indian Customs receives Bhutan's letter on Monday, allowing the much-anticipated trial run to finally proceed toward Bhutan.