Trials under Indo-Bangla transit deal end

Vessel Trans Samudera left the Chattogram port yesterday, carrying containers from the Indian state of Meghalaya, a trial run of Bangladesh being used as a transit. 

It marks the completion of all trial runs on all approved routes under an agreement signed between Indian and Bangladesh in 2018 to use the Chattogram and Mongla ports for the transit of goods, according to a statement of the Indian high commission.

The trial run was undertaken by Tata Steel and CJ Darcl Logistics on the Dawki–Tamabil–Chattogram route.

Necessary permanent standing orders or notifications will now be issued by Bangladesh for operationalising regular movement of goods under this agreement.

This is a step forward in realising the commitment reiterated during Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina's visit to India in September 2022, said the high commission.

There are eight approved routes for transit of goods under the agreement.

They include the Chattogram/Mongla port to Agartala via Akhaura, Chattogram/Mongla port to Dawki via Tamabil, Chattogram/Mongla port to Sutarkandi via Sheola, Chattogram/Mongla port to Srimantapur via Bibirbazar and vice versa.

During Hasina's visit to India in 2019, a standard operating procedure was signed to operationalise the agreement.

The first trial movement under this agreement on the Chattogram-Akhaura-Agartala route was successfully conducted in July 2020. Four containers -- two each of TMT steel and pulses -- were delivered to ICP Agartala from Kolkata through Chattogram.

"The transit/transshipment of goods under this agreement will reduce both cost and time for transport of goods to the northeastern states of India," said the statement.

It will also create economic gains for the Bangladesh logistics and services industry, including insurance, transport and finance industry, as only Bangladeshi trucks will be used for transshipment, it added.