A consignment destined for Bhutan that had been stranded for two days at Bangladesh’s Burimari land port was finally cleared to enter India through the Changrabandha land port on Monday (December 1).
Officials of Burimari land port confirmed the information in the evening.
Burimari land port assistant director Mahmudul Hasan, told reporters that India granted approval shortly after noon. Customs procedures were completed immediately, and the container truck departed for Bhutan later in the afternoon.
The trial transshipment consignment arrived at Burimari on 28 November but remained stuck due to the absence of Indian clearance.
“This is the first shipment under the transshipment arrangement. Now, other consignments will also proceed regularly,” Hasan said.
The transshipment follows a protocol signed between Bangladesh and Bhutan on 22 March 2023. In April the following year, commerce secretaries of both countries agreed to send two trial consignments to Bhutan using Bangladesh’s seaports and road networks, along with India’s road transit.
As part of that agreement, Bhutanese importer Abit Trading brought six types of goods from Thailand, including fruit juice, jelly, dried fruits, lychee-flavored candies, and shampoo. The shipment arrived at Chattogram seaport on 22 November from Thailand’s Laem Chabang port.
After being unloaded in Chattogram, the container truck traveled by road and reached the Burimari land port on 28 November, where it awaited India’s approval before being allowed to proceed.
