India approves Bhutan's transshipment goods through Bangladesh route
The first trial consignment proceeded toward Bhutan after Burimari officials received India’s long-awaited clearance
India has approved the movement of Bhutanese transshipment goods through its territory using Bangladesh's road network.
Burimari Land Port Assistant Director Mahmudul Hasan told The Business Standard that the approval came this afternoon, after which a container-laden truck completed customs procedures at the port and departed for Bhutan.
He said the trial consignment for Bhutan's transshipment reached Burimari port on 28 November but had remained there until 1 December, as India's clearance had not been issued.
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"After receiving the approval this afternoon, we completed the customs procedures. The truck has now departed Bangladesh for Bhutan," he said.
"This is the first shipment under the transshipment arrangement, and regular consignments will follow from now on," he added.
Bangladesh Land Port Authority Chairman Mohammad Manzurul Mannan told The Business Standard that the Bhutanese consignment had been waiting for port clearance from India. "Once the Indian authorities issued the approval, the necessary formalities were completed, and the Bhutan-bound truck was released," he said.
The shipment entered Indian territory at Chengrabandha in the afternoon, allowing the container to be handed over to Indian customs, said Omar Sharif Rafsan, executive director of Manuma Shipping Lines, the freight forwarder managing the consignment.
"After completing all formalities, the vehicle carrying the container crossed into India around 4:30 pm. From there, it will be transferred to an Indian trailer for onward delivery to Bhutan. The journey from the border to Phuentsholing will take around three hours," Rafsan said, adding that the empty container is expected to return by Tuesday morning.
Rafsan noted the delay could have been avoided, but weekly holidays in India and Bhutan over the weekend stalled the process.
A protocol agreement between Bangladesh and Bhutan was signed on 22 March 2023. One year later, during a secretary-level meeting in Bhutan in April 2024, both countries decided to send two trial transshipment consignments to Bhutan using Bangladesh's seaports and road network, along with India's road corridors.
As part of that arrangement, a Bhutanese importer shipped goods from Bangkok, Thailand, which were unloaded at Chattogram port before being transported by road toward Bhutan. The consignment, sent from Thailand's Laem Chabang port, arrived at Chattogram port on 22 September. It was later taken to the Burimari land port yard on 28 November.
However, the transshipment goods could not move onward to Bhutan through India because the Changrabandha land port authorities had not yet received the required clearance from their higher authorities. As a result, the Bhutanese consignment remained stuck at the port.
According to officials, Bhutanese importer Abit Trading brought six types of goods in the consignment, including fruit juice, jelly, dried fruits, litchi-flavoured candy and shampoo.
