India ends transshipment facility for Bangladesh

After Yunus backs Chinese economic role near NE

- BY S VENKAT NARAYAN Our SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI, April 9: In what seems to be a retaliatory move after Bangladesh advocated for the extension of the Chinese economy into the strategically important Northeast India region, India has terminated the transshipment facility for Bangladesh's export cargo. A notification to this effect was issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) on Tuesday.

This step could potentially disrupt Bangladesh's trade with Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar.

The CBIC, in its circular dated April 8, stated that it had rescinded its earlier circular dated June 29, 2020 in respect of the "transhipment of export cargo from Bangladesh to third countries through Land Customs Stations (LCSs) to ports or airports in containers or closed-bodied trucks." The 2020 circular had permitted the transhipment of export cargo from Bangladesh to third countries using Indian Land Customs Stations en route to Indian ports and airports, to enable smooth trade flows for Bangladesh's exports to countries such as Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar.