CHATTOGRAM: Trans-shipment of goods between India and Bangladesh through Chittagong seaport is set to resume this week after two years, officials at the Chittagong Port Authority said in Friday.
They said two more vessels from the neighbouring country under the trial run of transhipments of Indian goods to its north-eastern states through Bangladesh waters are scheduled to arrive at the outer anchorage of the Chittagong Port some times between July 25 and July 30.
Under the trial run, the first Indian container-carrying vessel, 'MV Shejyoti', with 108 containers of transshipment goods bound for India's Assam and Tripura states, berthed at Chittagong Port on July 21 in 2020, they noted.
The two ships arriving next week with the new transhipment consignments will set the sails from Shyama Prasad Mookherjee Port of Kolkata for Chittagong Port, they informed.
When contacted, CPA Secretary Omar Faruk confirmed this, saying "Under an agreement on the use of Chittagong and Mongla Port for movement of goods to and from India, (two more vessels) under the trial run will carry transshipment goods. As per the SOP standard operating procedure (SoP) of the agreement, the transshipment vessels are carrying goods on trial basis."
He said after the trans-shipment starts in full swing, a new dimension will be added to Bangladesh's national economy. "The Chittagong Customs House (CCH) will take revenue and taxes against the trans-shipment containers to be offloaded and loaded using the Chittagong Port. The country's roads and highways department will also get revenue as Bangladesh's the roads and highways will be used to carry goods to and from India through Bangladesh. Besides, the country's shipping agents, C & F agents, cargo transportation agents, transporters and others will get businesses. Apart from that more employments opportunities will be created following starting in full gear the trans-shipment," he added.
Contacted, President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) Mahbubul Alam said: "It is very good news for us that we resumed the trial run of trans-shipment. I hope that the regular trans-shipment will be started very soon."
He said, "Chittagong port has increased its capacity in recent years. Now the country's prime seaport is ready for handling cargoes coming and going under the trans-shipment system. The trans-shipment will open a new era of trade opportunities between Bangladesh and India. Our port and government can earn tariffs as well as traders of Bangladesh can get more businesses through trans-shipment."
Sources said, an inter-ministerial meeting was held in Bangladesh on Tuesday (July 19) last. The meeting took the decision to give permission for the berthing of two more Indian ships at the Chittagong Port under the trial runs of trans-shipment. The ships are set to come to Bangladesh from July 25 to July 30.
Earlier, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka sent a letter to Bangladesh's shipping ministry seeking to obtain nod for operation of two more ships under the trial run of trans-shipment. After getting the Indian HC's letter, the shipping ministry took the decision to give permission for berthing of two more Indian ships at Chittagong Port under the trial run.
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