The first trial run of Bhutan’s transit cargo was released on Monday from the Burimari land port in Lalmonirhat on its way to Bhutan through Indian territory.

Faruk Hossain, a member of the Burimari clearing and forwarding agent and owner of Benko Ltd, said this on Tuesday.

The 20-foot container imported from Thailand by Bhutanese firm Abit Trading was cleared on November 26 from the Chattogram port in Bangladesh, following a visit by Bhutanese prime minister Dasho Tshering Tobga in November 22-24.

Carrying 6,572 kilograms of consumer goods, including beverages, toiletries and dried fruits, the container reached Burimari on November 28.

Faruk said that the customs authorities at Burimari were waiting for approval from India to release the cargo from the port.

The approval was delayed for three days due mainly due to public holidays in both India and Bhutan, he said, adding that the container was kept on Monday at Nagar Changrabandha land port in West Bengal of India.

He also added that the container would proceed towards Phuentsholing in Bhutan on the day, via the designated Indian transit route of approximately 85 kilometres from Changrabandha.

The transit of cargo through Bangladesh to Bhutan has been made in line with the deal ‘Agreement on the Movement of Traffic-in-Transit between the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Royal Government of Bhutan’ signed on March 22, 2023, followed by a protocol to implement the agreement.

One year after signing the agreement and protocol, a Bangladesh–Bhutan secretary-level trade meeting held in Bhutan in April 2024 decided to conduct two trial runs of transit shipments.

The Burimari clearing and forwarding agents association hoped that the second trial transit would take place soon.

With the completion of the trial run, land-locked Bhutan is expected to import goods through the port in Chattogram.

For Bhutan, the arrangement provides the alternative sea route other than sea ports of India.

In October, Bhutan notified Bangladesh a 15-tonne shipment imported from Thailand had already arrived at Chattogram port for the first trial, handled by logistics operator M/s Abhi Cargo.

Bangladesh has requested Nepal, another land-locked country on the Himalayan region, to use the port in Chattogram.