DHAKA, Apr 10: The Bangladesh Ministry of Commerce held an emergency meeting in Dhaka after India withdrew its trans-shipment facility that allowed Bangladesh to export its goods to third countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar via its land routes.
The emergency, held at the office of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, on Wednesday, was attended by key business leaders and senior representatives from the country’s Ministry of Commerce, the Dhaka Tribune reported.
India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has withdrawn with immediate effect, a directive issued on June 29, 2020 which allowed Bangladesh to export goods to third countries using one of India’s customs stations. Under this facility, goods could be transported to third countries via Indian ports by land, sea, or air.
India has also instructed that all currently loaded consignments within its territory must exit the country immediately.
Given that Dhaka’s land exports to these countries are completely reliant on New Delhi’s infrastructure, the revocation of the facility’s usage by India has caused considerable restlessness amongst Bangladeshi entrepreneurs and political leadership. The cancellation virtually meant that all of the country’s land exports to Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar were almost completely cut off.
However, India had clarified that this order was not going to affect Bangladesh’s exports.
In his briefing yesterday, the spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said “The trans-shipment facility extended to Bangladesh had over a period of time resulted in significant congestion at our Airports and Ports. Logistical delays and higher costs were hindering our own exports and creating backlogs. The facility, therefore, has been withdrawn with effect from April 8, 2025.
“And let me clarify here, I saw some reports. These measures do not impact Bangladesh’s exports to Nepal and Bhutan transiting through Indian territory. It has no impact on Nepal and Bhutan trade as far as Bangladesh exports are concerned There is a particular reason why it has been brought in because we are facing congestion on our side, and we have to create more space for our own exports.”
(UNI)
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