India blocks Bhutan’s first Thai transshipment

India blocks Bhutan’s first Thai transshipment

 Lalmonirhat, Nov 30 - Bhutan’s first trial transshipment consignment from Thailand has remained stuck at Burimari land port after Indian authorities refused permission for road transit, officials said on Sunday.

India has not allowed the consignment to move through its Changrabandha land port.

Officials said a container carrying six types of goods — fruits, juice, jelly, dry fruits, lychee-flavoured candy and shampoo — left Thailand’s Laem Chabang port on September 8 for Bhutan’s importer Abith Trading.

The shipment reached Chattogram Port on September 22 and was brought to Burimari land port at 4pm on November 28 by C&F agent NM Trading Corporation.

Burimari land port officials said India’s approval is essential for the consignment to move from Bangladesh to Bhutan via Indian territories.

The Changrabandha land port authorities did not issue that permission, leaving the container parked at the Burimari yard.

Faruk Hossain, a member of the Burimari C&F Agents Association and proprietor of Benco Limited, said the trial consignment is still at Burimari. “India has not given approval. So it could not be sent. Once we get permission, the consignment will be forwarded to Bhutan,” he said.

Delwar Hossain, assistant commissioner of Burimari Customs Station, said customs procedures for Bhutan’s consignment have been completed.  “Once Indian Customs gives clearance, the goods can be sent onward to Bhutan,” he said.

Bangladesh and Bhutan signed a protocol agreement on March 22, 2023.

Later, at a secretary-level meeting held in Bhutan in April last year, both sides decided to send two trial transshipment consignments to Bhutan using Bangladesh’s seaport and road network along with India’s road corridor.

To implement that decision, NM Trading Corporation brought the first container to Burimari on November 28.

However, on November 28 and 29, Benco Limited, the assigned C&F agent, tried several times to secure entry permission through Changrabandha but India did not approve the request. - UNB