Transshipment of goods via B’Desh: MoS Pratima Bhowmik welcomes trial consignment at Srimantapur LCS

  • By Our Correspondent
  • Aug 16, 2022

Agartala, Aug 16: A trial consignment of goods arrived in Tripura’s Srimantapur Land Customs Station from Kolkata via Mongla Port in Bangladesh on Tuesday. 

Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Pratima Bhowmik welcomed the cargo container in presence of others. 

According to a government press release, India and Bangladesh have signed an agreement for movement of transit cargo from Kolkata to Northeastern states via Mongla Port in Chittagong.

According to the agreement, the first trial run was conducted in July 2020. The second trial run from Kolkata was started with two consignments for Tripura and Meghalaya on August 5 last. The Tripura’s consignment was received at Srimantapur LCS on Tuesday. 

As per the SOP of October 5, 2019, goods will be transported to Agartala and Srimantapur in Tripura and Sutarkandi in Assam, Dawki in Meghalaya by using two ports—Chittagong and Mongla of Bangladesh, the press release said.

After receiving the transit cargo, the Union Minister said, with the increase in transportation of goods through Srimantapur ICP more avenues of income generation would also open up. 

She said, the central government has sanctioned fund for the development of Mongla and Chittagong ports. 

At present only 25 items are being exported to Bangladesh through the Srimantapur LCS. She hoped that the number of export items may be increased to 50. 

Bhowmik said, due to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's sincere efforts India's relation with neighbouring countries as well other countries of the world has strengthened. The Prime Minister has taken up Gatishakti scheme so that various works can be streamlined between various ministries and work can be completed in time. 

As per the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Vijay Diwas of Bangladesh would be celebrated in Tripura in a grand manner form this year. The trial consignment included 270 cartons of pre-foam which will be carried forward to Silchar. 

Minister for Industries and Commerce Santana Chakma, MLA Subhash Chandra Das, Assistant High Commissioner of India to Chittagong Dr. Rajeev Ranjan, Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Agartala Arif Mohammad and Manager of Land Port Authority of India at Akhaura ICP Debasis Nandi were also present in the programme.