India’s Transshipment Cancellation Not a Concern for Bangladesh: Commerce Adviser
On Tuesday (8 April), India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) officially revoked a 2020 directive that had allowed Bangladeshi cargo to transit through Indian territory to third countries via transshipment. Despite the sudden policy shift, Bangladesh’s Commerce Adviser, Sheikh Bashir Uddin, has assured that the move will not significantly impact Bangladesh.
Speaking to the media at the Secretariat on Thursday (10 April), he said, “We will handle the situation through our own management systems and aim to strengthen our commercial capabilities. This challenge will be addressed without compromising our competitiveness.”
Export Trucks Turned Back at Border
On Thursday evening, four Bangladeshi trucks carrying export-bound goods were denied entry into India through Benapole Port. Rashedul Sajib Nazir, Deputy Director of the port, confirmed that Petrapole Customs declined to clear the trucks following India’s policy reversal.
“The trucks carrying goods for third-country destinations were not permitted to cross into Indian territory. However, exports to India itself continue as usual,” he stated.
Kartik Chakraborty, General Secretary of the Petrapole Clearing and Forwarding Agents’ Staff Welfare Association, noted that the cancellation was based on a formal notification from India’s Ministry of Finance.
Focus on Domestic Capacity Building
The Commerce Adviser reiterated that Bangladesh is exploring self-sufficient solutions to mitigate the impact. “We’ve already met with business leaders and international buyers. We’re taking steps to enhance our infrastructure, manage additional costs, and maintain uninterrupted connectivity,” he said.
When questioned about the possibility of retaliatory measures — such as halting Indian transit through Bangladesh — Bashir Uddin clarified that such decisions fall outside his jurisdiction. “Our focus is on increasing our capacity, not retaliation,” he emphasized.
He also mentioned that Bangladesh is not currently considering any official correspondence with the Indian government regarding the cancellation.
Temporary Tariff Relief from the US
In a related development, the Commerce Adviser noted that the United States has temporarily lifted certain additional tariffs on Bangladeshi goods for three months. “This gives us a breathing space to engage in meaningful dialogue and take necessary steps to address trade imbalances,” he added.