For the first time since revoking the transshipment facility, India has restricted the passage of four trucks carrying goods from Bangladesh to Spain via the Petrapole Land Port.
Mamun Kabir Tarafder, Deputy Director (Traffic) of Benapole Land Port, confirmed that the trucks were turned back at the Indian port’s gate on Wednesday evening.
According to Sajedur Rahman, General Secretary of the Benapole Clearing and Forwarding Agent Staff Association, the trucks belonged to Dhaka-based exporter DSV Air & Sea Limited and were transporting ready-made garments to Spain. The vehicles later returned to Dhaka from the Petrapole border.
India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) had announced on Tuesday that the transshipment facility was revoked “with immediate effect.” The board initially stated that cargo already within India’s borders would be allowed to exit under previous regulations. However, on Wednesday, authorities ordered all goods trucks already inside Indian territory to leave immediately.
The cancellation of the facility is expected to disrupt the export of Bangladeshi ready-made garments to various destinations, including through Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Kartik Chakraborty, General Secretary of the Petrapole Port C&F Staff Welfare Association, stated that the Indian Ministry of Finance had officially notified customs of the decision, leading to the prevention of transit cargo from entering Petrapole Port from Benapole Port.
Mamun Kabir explained that Petrapole customs did not issue cargo passes for any third-country shipments due to the facility’s cancellation, which resulted in the rejection of four truckloads of export-bound goods on Tuesday.
The transshipment facility, introduced in June 2020, had allowed Bangladeshi exports to third countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar through Indian land routes, facilitating smoother trade via Indian seaports and airports.
