Bhutan to export oranges to Bangladesh via northeast India

SHILLONG - Bhutan will export oranges and other horticultural products to Bangladesh through India’s northeastern states, officials said here Saturday.

“The first consignment of oranges would be exported to Sylhet in Bangladesh soon through the Dawki land customs station in Meghalaya,” a senior Meghalaya government official said.

“New Delhi has recently agreed to a Bhutan government proposal to carry out the export to Bangladesh through the northeastern states.”

To finalise the modalities and formalities, a delegation from Bhutan comprising a member of the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce, Bhutan export and import association, Indo-Bhutan friendship association and government officials earlier this week had visited the Dawki land customs station.

Bhutan has so far been exporting oranges, ginger and various other crops to Bangladesh through West Bengal. Bhutan has been producing on an average 100,000 tonnes of oranges annually.

India and Bhutan share a 643-km unfenced border while four northeastern states - Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam share a 1,880-km border with Bangladesh.

At the end of a three-day visit to India by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this month, a joint communique by the two countries had said trucks from Bhutan and Nepal would be allowed to enter about 200 metres into Bangladesh at Banglabandh, a land customs station at Phulbari in West Bengal.

Bangladesh has been pressing India to provide a corridor through West Bengal to conduct trade with Bhutan and Nepal.