Bangladesh has asked Bhutan to submit a formal proposal for a potential free trade agreement (FTA) after the Himalayan nation expressed interest in upgrading its current trade arrangement with Bangladesh.
Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman said the proposal would be reviewed by the technical committee on trade once it is received before a final decision is made.
The discussion took place during a two-day visit to Dhaka by a delegation led by Tashi Wangmo, Secretary of Bhutan’s Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment of Bhutan.
Bangladesh and Bhutan previously signed a Bangladesh–Bhutan Preferential Trade Agreement in December 2020, marking Bangladesh’s first bilateral trade deal. Under the agreement, Bangladesh offers duty-free access to 34 Bhutanese products, while Bhutan allows duty-free entry for 100 Bangladeshi goods.
During the meeting, Bhutan also requested an expansion of the duty-free product list under the existing PTA. The Bhutanese delegation further proposed using Chattogram Port for import and export activities due to the country’s landlocked status.
Bangladesh indicated that Bhutan could use Pangaon Inland Container Terminal and Khanpur River Port for cargo transportation, while the request to use Chattogram port will be reviewed by the government.
According to officials, a recent trial shipment imported from Thailand by Bhutanese traders was successfully routed through Chattogram port. If the arrangement is approved, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges of Bangladesh, the Ministry of Shipping of Bangladesh, and other agencies will determine the fee structure for Bhutan’s use of the port facilities.
