Pending India nod stalls Bhutan cargo at Burimari

An initiative to send transshipment goods to Bhutan via Bangladesh’s road network on a trial basis has stalled at Burimari Land Port.

The container carrying the goods is stuck in Lalmonirhat as India did not grant permission, said Faruk Hossain, a member of the C&F Agents Association.

Port officials said the container, carrying six types of goods shipped by Abit Trading Company Limited from Bangkok, Thailand, arrived at Chittagong Port on Sept 22.

The consignment of fruit juice, jelly, dried fruits, litchi-flavoured candy, shampoo and other products was bound for Bhutan.

As part of the Bangladesh-Bhutan trade agreement, a meeting of the two countries’ trade secretaries in April decided two consignments would be sent to Bhutan on a trial basis via Bangladesh’s seaports and roads and India’s roads.

The container from Chattogram arrived at Burimari Land Port on Nov 28.

Despite multiple attempts on Nov 28 and Nov 29, it could not pass through India’s Changrabandha Land Port, as approval from India’s high-level authorities has not yet been received.

Mahmudul Hasan, assistant director (Traffic) of Burimari Land Port Authority, said the container has been kept in the port yard since Nov 27.

 “All customs procedures for the Bhutanese shipment have been completed,” said Delwar Hossain, assistant commissioner of Burimari Customs Station.

 “We will be able to release the goods to Bhutan once the Indian customs office gives clearance.”