The first trial consignment for Bhutan's transshipment has started its journey towards Bhutan on Monday afternoon as it received the approval from India to complete the customs procedures.
The truck has now departed for Bhutan, official said without elaborating.
On Monday, the Indian government allowed the movement of Bhutanese transshipment goods through its territory from Bangladesh.
The container-laden with goods reached Burimari on 28 November but had remained there until 1 December, to get the India's clearance.
This is the first shipment under the transshipment arrangement, and regular consignments will follow from now, official hopes.
The shipment entered Chengrabandha in Indian territory in the afternoon, allowing the container to be handed over to Indian customs, official said.
After completing all formalities, the vehicle carrying the container crossed into India around 430 pm. From there, it will be transferred to an Indian trailer for onward delivery to Bhutan.
The journey from the border to Phuentsholing will take around three hours, the empty container is expected to return by Tuesday morning.
Bangladesh and Bhutan was signed agree.ent on 22 March 2023. One year later, during a secretary-level meeting in Bhutan in April 2024, both countries decided to send two trial transshipment consignments to Bhutan using Bangladesh's seaports and road network, along with India's roads.
As part of that arrangement, a Bhutanese importer shipped goods from Bangkok, Thailand, which were unloaded at Chattogram port before being transported by road toward Bhutan.
The consignment, sent from Thailand's Laem Chabang port, arrived at Chattogram Port on 22 September. It was later taken to the Burimari land port yard on 28 November.
However, the transshipment goods could not move onward to Bhutan through India because there was no clearance from Indian side.
