1st Bangladeshi cargo truck arrives; customs calls it historic

New Delhi, Sep 5 (PTI) In a historic event, the firstBangladeshi vehicle laden with imported consignment rolledinto a customs depot here as part of an accord that has doneaway with trans shipment of goods from one country’s truck toanother at international border, a time consuming and costlyprocess. Senior customs officials said that this is yet anothermeasure in a series of trade facilitation initiatives taken bythe government recently to help businesses cut transactioncosts. "It is a very big day that marks ease of doing business.The entry of Bangladesh’s cargo vehicles to India and our’s totheir territory will help in saving of days and transactioncost. It will further trade between the two countries," ChiefCommissioner of customs Vivek Johri told PTI. He said the compulsion to tranship goods at the borderswith neighbouring countries has been a major and "longstandingpain point" hindering free flow of trade. It has been made possible under the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement, which wassigned in June last year. The pact allows vehicles to enter each other’s territoryand does away with trans shipment of goods from one country’struck to another at the border. There was no provision to allow trucks registered inIndia to enter Bangladesh and vice versa until the accord wassigned last year. Johri said the measure would not only cut cost and timebut also allow the BBIN region to fully exploit its potentialfor integration through trade. The truck had left Dhaka on August 27 and entered Indiathrough Petrapole land border in West Bengal. It reachedInland Container Depot (ICD), Patparganj, this morning. The vehicle, which was carrying goods for Marks andSpencer’s, London, was fitted with a Global Positioning System(GPS) to help officials track its movement and help themensure hassle free entry into the national capital via variousstates. "It is a historic event for both the countries," saidVinayak Azaad, Additional Commissioner of customs. Officials from Bangladesh’s High Commission andMinistries of External Affairs and Road Transport and Highwayswere present during a function organised at the ICD. "The event will help in increasing trade betweenBangladesh and India. It also shows that trust exists betweenthe two countries," said Zahid-Ul-Islam, Counsellor,Bangladesh High Commission. Drivers of the truck — Motiur Islam (32) and Md Rasel(28) — were enthusiastic over their first visit to India. "Itis a proud moment for us. I enjoyed driving on the Indiaroads," said Rasel. Motiur, who could barely speak in Hindi, was happy to bepart of this historic event. PTI AKV SMN SKSMN