After India and Nepal, Bhutan has started its export-import activities with Bangladesh using the Bangla Bandha land port. On the first day of new year, the Himalayan country officially starts the process of exporting goods through the land port located at the northern tip of Bangladesh. It will expand the horizon for trading between the two South Asian nations, hopes the business communities in both countries.

A tetrapartite agreement between Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan was signed on 1 September 1997 regarding the use of Bangla Banda land port to boost export and import activities among participating countries. Under the sub-regional initiative by India, the land port carries a lot of importance, especially for Bangladesh in establishing its business connectivity with Bhutan and Nepal.

On the first day, two trucks from Bhutan carrying stone boulders entered Bangladesh via Bangla Bandha land port. 74 and 68 items from Bhutan and Bangladesh respectively can be the part of export-import activities as per a separate bilateral agreement between the two countries.

In November last year, Bhutanese National Council (SC), the upper house of the country’s parliament, refused to ratify the four national BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India) Motor vehicle agreement. It was a setback for the initiative taken by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, Delhi has been trying to bring the neighboring country back to BBIN deal.

As part of this, the country they are considering to connect Bhutan with India through a new international highway. The state government Assam is discussing the matter with the central government, said a report in the Shilling Times, a local English daily of the state. Bangladesh might also be able to connect with Bhutan using the highway through Assam.