Staff Reporter:
Four goods-laden trucks were sent back from Benapole Port on Wednesday evening as India withdrew a 2020 transshipment permission that allowed Bangladesh to export to third countries via Indian ports.
Benapole Import-Export Association Vice President Uzzal Biswas said the India decision to rescind the transshipment facility and curb Bangladesh’s exports to other neighbouring countries, like Bhutan and Nepal, would also hurt Delhi’s bilateral trade and ties with Dhaka.
He hoped India’s Hindu nationalist government would eventually retract its “spiteful decision” to maintain amicable ties.
Rashedul Sajib Nazir, deputy director of Benapole Port, said that the Indian government’s cancellation of the transshipment facility led to the Petrapole Customs refusing clearance for third-country goods.
“The trucks carrying these goods could not enter India.”
He, however, mentioned that the export trade for goods intended for the Indian market is still operating normally.
Kartik Chakraborty, general secretary of the Petrapole Clearing and Forwarding Agents’ Staff Welfare Association, said that India’s Ministry of Finance had issued a letter regarding the cancellation of the transshipment facility.
Based on this letter, the entry of goods meant for third countries via Benapole into Petrapole Port was halted.
Earlier, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that India has withdrawn the transshipment facility for Bangladesh.
“The transshipment facility extended to Bangladesh had over a period of time resulted in significant congestion at our airports and ports,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a media briefing in New Delhi on Wednesday.
