Bhutan's first transit cargo set for release Tuesday after 2-month delay

Bhutan's first trial transit shipment through Chattogram Port is set to roll out on Tuesday (25 November), ending a two-month wait caused by delayed regulatory clearances. The shipment includes 6,530 kgs of goods such as shampoo, dried palm, iced tea, chocolate and juice. Bhutan's Abit Trading is the importer.

The container arrived in September and was unloaded promptly, but the cargo sat idle as several government agencies had yet to sign off on the movement. Those approvals came last week, allowing Bhutan's local agent NM Trading Corporation, to begin the release process on Sunday. Once cleared, the consignment will move toward Bhutan along the officially approved trial corridor.

Customs officials said the papers were submitted on Sunday afternoon and assessed within a few hours. 

NM Trading Corporation Managing Director Md Shahidul Alam Khan told The Business Standard today (24 November) that the release window was set for Tuesday. He expects the container to leave the port around 2pm and begin its journey toward Bhutan.

Under the protocol, the cargo will travel from Chattogram by road to Burimari land port. Then it will cross into India through Changrabandha and will head to Phuentsholing. The route will require transit through Indian territory.

This is the first cargo being moved under the Agreement on the Movement of Traffic in Transit, signed on 22 March 2023. As a landlocked country, Bhutan relies on third-country routes for most imports. If the trial run meets its expectations, regular movements through Bangladesh could follow.

What held it up

Dhaka and Thimphu agreed last April to run two trial consignments under the new transit arrangement. Bhutan loaded the first one on 8 September at Laem Chabang and notified Bangladesh. Before the commerce ministry could pass the information to the National Board of Revenue, the container had already reached Chattogram on 22 September aboard the Bangladeshi vessel MV HR Hira.

The NBR issued customs instructions on 17 November. Three days later, the Road Transport and Highways Division informed NBR of the tolls that would apply on the transit route. NM Trading Corporation, the appointed C&F agent, began processing the release soon after.

How much Bangladesh earns

Three agencies will collect fees from the trial consignment: Chattogram Customs, Chattogram Port, and the Road Transport and Highways Division.

According to NBR's instructions, each shipment must pay a document processing fee of TK30, a transshipment fee of Tk20 per tonne, a security charge of Tk100 per tonne, an escort fee of Tk85 per kilometre per container, an administrative fee of Tk100 per tonne ,and a scanning fee of Tk254 per container.

The transit corridor from Chattogram to Burimari spans 684 kilometres. Twelve kilometres fall under the toll-based Port Access Road, which requires Tk45. Toll charges for the Meghna, Meghna–Gomti, Jamuna and Teesta bridges total Tk4,815. For the remaining 672 kilometres of toll-free road, a weight-based charge applies, Tk1,462 per tonne. For the 6.5-tonne shipment, this amounts to Tk10,234.

Minimal impact on port capacity

Bhutan's external trade stood at $1.89 billion in 2024, with India accounting for nearly four-fifths of that volume. Trade with all other partners combined amounted to $320 million.

Chattogram Port Secretary Omar Faruk said the expected cargo volume from Bhutan is negligible compared to the port's capacity. Even if Bhutan chooses regular transit movements, he said, it would not strain operations.