A pilot transit shipment, destined for Bhutan, has been stalled at Burimari land port in Lalmonirhat district after India declined to grant entry permission, officials said on Sunday.
Faruk Hossain, a member of C&F Agents Association, confirmed that the container has remained stranded at the Lalmonirhat port due to the lack of Indian clearance.
According to port officials, the container carrying six categories of goods from Bangkok-based Abid Trading Company Ltd arrived at Chattogram Port on 22 September.
The shipment, which includes fruit juice, jelly, dried fruits, lychee-flavoured candy, shampoo and other items, was scheduled to reach Bhutan.
Under the Bangladesh-Bhutan Protocol Agreement, both countries agreed during a secretary-level meeting in April to send two pilot consignments to Bhutan using Bangladesh’s seaports and road networks and India’s road transit routes.
The container reached Burimari on 28 November. Several attempts were made on November 28 and 29 to move it across the border via India’s Changrabandha land port, but Indian authorities have yet to issue the required high-level approval for transit.
“The trial shipment for Bhutan is waiting at Burimari. We can forward it as soon as India grants permission,” said Faruk Hossain, who also represents Benko Ltd.
Assistant Director (Traffic) of Burimari Land Port, Mahmudul Hasan, said the container has been stored in the port yard since Thursday.
Assistant Commissioner at Burimari Customs Station, Delwar Hossain, said all customs procedures in Bangladesh have been completed. “Once Indian Customs approves the entry, we will release the shipment toward Bhutan,” he added.
