Goods in transit and transshipment from India have to enter Bangladesh in covered containers with unbroken seal as per modalities framed under the two-nation treaty.        

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has framed the draft rules under the protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) between the countries, officials said.

The operating rules for the trans-border transportation came after the formal start of transshipment of goods from India this month.

Goods in transshipment or transit or on any commercial purpose have to be transported separately in covered containers or covered vans, railway wagons or covered river vessels.

Importers of the goods will have to mention 'for transshipment or 'for transit' in the import manifest. However, import manifest can be submitted online too.

The set of draft customs rules on transshipment and transit under PIWTT-2016 holds these provisions for transit. The regular transshipment of Indian goods through Bangladesh began with the unloading of 1,004 tonnes of iron rods at Ashuganj river port in Brahmanbaria. 

The government has allowed India to transit its goods through Bangladesh under the PIWTT between the two countries on payment of a charge of Tk 192.22 per tonne.

Importers of the products will have to declare on transit and transshipment of the goods after import of the products at the customs station.

The rules empower the NBR to charge transit/transshipment and other fees as per government permission.

To ensure security, the products have to be sealed properly from the source country. Customs officials at the entry point will re-seal the products after getting that sealed from the source country.

In case of a broken seal, the customs official concerned will conduct physical examination of the products by informing the importers who declared the shipments. The customs official will take punitive measures if they find any inconsistencies against the declaration. 

Transporter of the products will be held responsible if seal is found broken, and it will be a punishable offence as per law.

Relevant customs station will have to send detailed information of the transit or transshipment products to the exit-point customs station in advance after the shipment.

Transit and transshipment products must have insurance-cover note with each chalan from the insurance companies, registered in Bangladesh.  In case of failure in collecting insurance-cover note, the authorities will accept 'guarantee undertaking' by the relevant authority of that country. 

The insurance must cover up all duty taxes, accident, negligence, sabotage which is supposed to be applicable for general import activities.

Crew and sailors can bring their necessities for daily use without duty-taxes. They have to give a declaration of the fuel oil of the goods-carrying vessel, spare parts and tools for repairing to the customs authority. At the exit point, customs officials will examine those at the customs station. 

Under the rules, arms, ammunition, nuclear and radioactive substances, toxic products etc are banned as transit goods.

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Source: The Financial Express