Bhutan's first transit shipment thru Ctg port set for release today

CHATTOGRAM, Nov 24: Bhutan's maiden transit shipment through Chattogram port is scheduled for delivery today (Tuesday), two months after its arrival was delayed due to pending approvals from multiple agencies.
The container, unloaded in September, remained stuck as several clearances were not issued on time. Those permissions were granted last week, allowing Bhutan's appointed local agent to begin the release process on Sunday.
Once the consignment leaves the port this afternoon, it will move toward Bhutan via the designated trial transit route, sources say.
Under the protocol, the shipment travels from Thailand's Laem Chabang Port to Chattogram port, then proceeds by road through Burimari Land Port in Lalmonirhat, enters India through Changrabandha in Cooch Behar, and finally reaches Phuentsholing in Bhutan -- using Indian territory under the transit agreement.
The trial consignment carries 6,530 kilogrammes of goods, including shampoo, dried palm, iced tea, chocolate and juice. The cargo was exported by Thailand's Abit Trading Company Limited and imported by Bhutan's Abit Trading.
This is the first shipment under the Agreement on the Movement of Traffic-in-Transit and its protocol, signed on March 22, 2023.
Bhutan, being landlocked, relies on third-country routes for maritime access. If the trial run proceeds smoothly, it could open the door for regular shipments through Bangladesh, although the final decision will rest with Bhutan.
Bangladesh and Bhutan earlier agreed that two trial consignments would be transported under the new transit deal.
Bhutan loaded the first container on September 8 at Laem Chabang and notified Dhaka. By the time Bangladesh's commerce ministry forwarded the matter to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the vessel -- MV HR Hira -- had already reached Chattogram on September 22.
NBR issued the order to complete customs formalities on November 17, followed by confirmation of applicable tolls from the Road Transport and Highways Division (RHD) on November 20.
The C&F agent, NM Trading Corporation, started the paperwork soon afterwards, with customs completing assessment within hours of submission on Sunday.
NM Trading Managing Director Md Shahidul Alam Khan said the delivery slot was fixed for Tuesday noon, with the container expected to leave the port around 2:00pm en route to Bhutan.
Three agencies will collect charges from the trial shipment -- Chittagong Customs House (CCH), Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) and the Road Transport and Highways Division (RHD).
According to the NBR order, each consignment must pay a Tk 30 document processing fee, Tk 20 per tonne as transshipment fee, Tk 100 per tonne as security charge, Tk 85 per kilometre per container as escort fee, Tk 100 per tonne as administrative fee, and Tk 254 as scanning fee per container.

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