South Asian landlocked country Bhutan is set to get "traffic-in-transit" facilities from Bangladesh to transport goods regularly using Chattogram Port to Burimari Land Port and onward to Bhutan through Indian territory travelling 684 kilometres across Bangladeshi territory.
Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay will witness the first trial run today (Sunday), under which a 15-tonne consignment is set to move from Chattogram Port to Burimari land port and onward to Bhutan through Indian territory.
Bangladesh signed the "Agreement on the Movement of Traffic-in-Transit" and its protocol with Bhutan on March 22, 2023.
At a commerce secretary-level meeting in Bhutan in April last year, both sides agreed that the agreement would come into effect after completing two trial runs at mutually convenient times.
In October, Bhutan informed Bangladesh through a note verbale that a 15-tonne shipment had been loaded for Chattogram Port for the first trial run and designated M/s Abhi Cargo Company to handle the process.
After completion of the two trial, the next commerce secretary-level meeting with Bhutan is scheduled for January which, a joint technical committee is supposed to determine charges and fees.
"Bhutan requested the trial run before the committee was formed and before charges were finalised, officials said. Since the consignment has already reached Chattogram Port, Bangladesh is preparing to conduct the trial as a friendly gesture," a senior official of the Commerce Ministry said.
Bangladesh has already issued written consent to the port authorities and the National Board of Revenue to facilitate the movement of Bhutanese cargo, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman said.
Once the second trial run is completed, the South Asian landlocked country will be able to transport goods regularly through Bangladesh, he added.
Earlier, Bangladesh completed four trial runs under its transit agreement with India ahead of the December 2024 national election. Although the agreement was expected to move into implementation, no progress has been made since the change of government.
For Bhutan's trial transit, Bangladesh has set a document processing fee of Tk 30 per consignment, a transshipment fee of Tk 20 per tonne, a security charge of Tk100 per tonne, an escort fee of Tk 85 per kilometre per container, administrative charges of Tk100 per tonne and a scanning fee of Tk 254 per container. Road tolls and corridor user fees will be determined by the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges.
