Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs
GS2 – International Relations
Context:
India has withdrawn the transhipment privilege it had extended to Bangladesh in 2020, which enabled the latter to send export consignments to third countries via the Petrapole Land Port.
This move follows recent remarks by a Bangladeshi official suggesting that Northeast India’s landlocked geography makes Bangladesh the region’s sole maritime gateway. The comment was perceived in India as an attempt by Bangladesh to gain strategic leverage over northeastern connectivity.
Tensions have also heightened due to the advisor’s growing inclination towards deepening ties with China, positioning it as a crucial strategic ally for Bangladesh — a development that has complicated bilateral dynamics.
About Petrapole Land Port:
Located on the India-Bangladesh border, Petrapole is the largest land port in South Asia. Under the transhipment arrangement, Bangladeshi goods were transported to Petrapole for customs clearance, after which Indian vehicles carried the consignments to international airports in Kolkata or Delhi. This port handles nearly 30% of all overland trade between the two nations.