Indian ship with transshipment goods arrives at Chattogram port

The first ship under the trial run of transhipment of Indian goods to its north-eastern states through Bangladesh waters has arrived at Chattogram port today morning.

The ship, MV Shejyoti, carrying four TEUs (20-foot equivalent unit) transhipment goods from India's Haldia port, reached the outer anchorage of Chattogram port at around 1am.

Earlier on July 16, the water vessel left Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port (former Kolkata port) for Haldia.

Chattogram Port authority secretary Md Omar Faruk told The Business Standard that the vessel would get berthing at New Mooring Container Terminal-1 at around 11 am during high tide from outer anchorage.

While the agent of the ship Mango Lines Manager Habibur Rahman told The Business Standard "Offloading may begin also today after completing the formalities."

Chattogram Port Authority Member (Administration and Planning) Md Zafar Alam told The Business Standard on Monday that Indian transhipment goods would enjoy a 28-day free-stay from offloading at the port as per the international transhipment agreement.

The free-stay since offloading is four days for the Bangladeshi importers. Local businessmen will have to pay $294 (Tk24, 990 as per dollar is equivalent to Tk85) for per TEU if they want to keep their containers at the port for 28 days.

Bangladesh will earn Tk254 from the scanning of each container loaded with transhipment goods. Bangladeshi importers also pay the same charge for the scanning of imported goods at Chattogram port.

Similarly, per consignment of Indian goods will be levied by Tk30 as document processing fee – the same amount is charged on Bangladeshi importers. 

Apart from this, Bangladesh will get a transhipment fee of Tk20 per tonne, Tk100 as security charge, Tk100 as administrative fee and electric lock and seal fees. However, the Chattogram Custom House could not specify the charge for electric lock and seal.

Joint Commissioner of the customs house SM Shamsuzzaman said the transshipped goods will have to pay police Tk50 per tonne as escort charge to reach Indian border from the port by roads.

Usually a 20 feet container carries the highest 30 tonnes of goods. According to this estimation, Bangladesh will realize around Tk1, 500 as escort charge to reach the goods of a container to the border.

Shipping agent sources said the four containers under the trial transhipment contain rod and pulse. Those will head to Agartala through Akhaura Land Port in Brahmanbaria by prime movers after offloading.

The consignment of rod will be brought to West Tripura's Jirania from Agartala, while the pulse will go to Karimganj in Assam.

Akhaura Customs Officer Harunur Rashid said they have taken necessary preparations for the transportation of the Indian goods.

Chattogram Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral SM Abul Kalam Azad told The Business Standard that they have completed all preparations to receive the consignment under the trial run.

The eight routes for this transhipment are from Chattogram port or Mongla port to Agartala via Akhaura; from Chattogram or Mongla port to Dawki via Tamabil; from Chattogram or Mongla port to Sutarkandi via Sheola; and from Chattogram or Mongla to Srimantapur via Bibirbazar and vice versa.

India is transporting goods to its north-eastern states using Bangladeshi ports as per the agreement on "The Use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for Movement of Goods to and from India" signed between Dhaka and Delhi in 2018 and a standard operating procedure (SoP) signed in October, 2019.

Earlier, the Indian government used the Ashuganj river port to transport goods for the Palatana Power Plant in Tripura through the Akhaura land port.