Landlocked reciprocal? India ends trans-shipment facility for B'desh

INDIA on Wednesday revoked a trans-shipment facility that allowed Bangladesh to export cargo to third countries via Indian land customs stations.

- JAYANTH JACOB @ New Delhi

INDIA on Wednesday revoked a trans-shipment facility that allowed Bangladesh to export cargo to third countries via Indian land customs stations. This decision follows controversial remarks by Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser to Bangladesh's interim government, about the landlocked nature of India's north-eastern states during his visit to China.

However, the External Affairs Ministry clarified that these measures do not affect Bangladesh's exports to Nepal or Bhutan transiting through Indian Territory and explained that the decision was made due to logistical delays and higher costs, which were hindering India's own exports and causing backlogs.