Transit trialIndian transit container transported from Meghalaya via territory of Bangladesh

A vessel named ‘M/V Trans Samudera’ departed Chattogram Port on Wednesday (Oct 19) carrying Indian transit container that was transported from the Northeastern State of India, Meghalaya via the territory of Bangladesh.

This movement of cargo is part of the trial runs being undertaken for the operationalisation of the Agreement to use Chattogram and Mongla Ports for the transit of goods to and from India which was signed between India and Bangladesh in 2018.

The trial run is being undertaken by Tata Steel and CJ Darcl Logistics Ltd. on the route Dawki–Tamabil–Chattogram, said the High Commission of India in Dhaka.

There are eight approved routes for transit of goods under the Agreement, namely, 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 on all four routes.

During the visit of Prime Minister of Bangladesh to India in 2019, a SOP was signed to operationalize the Agreement.

The first trial movement under this agreement on the route Chattogram-Akhaura-Agartala was successfully conducted in July 2020 wherein four containers, two each of TMT steel and pulses, were delivered at 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 Northeastern States of India. It will also create economic gains for the Bangladesh logistics and services industry (Insurance, transport and Finance industry etc.) as only Bangladesh trucks will be used for transshipment.

This trial run marks the completion of all trial runs on all approved routes under this Agreement. Trial runs on the routes Mongla–Tamabil–Dawki, Mongla–Bibirbazar–Srimantapur and Chattogram–Sheola–Sutarkandi.

Following this completion of trial runs, necessary permanent standing order/notification would now be issued by the Government of Bangladesh for the operationalization and regular movement of goods under this Agreement.

This is a step forward in realizing the commitment reiterated at the level of the two Prime Ministers during the visit of Prime of Bangladesh to India in September 2022.