Bangladesh offers Bhutan duty-free export of stones

Bangladesh has offered duty-free and quota-free export of stones and boulders from Bhutan for using those in the construction of Padma Bridge.

The decision was made at the two-day commerce secretary level meeting between Bangladesh and Bhutan in Dhaka that ended today.

“We offered Bhutan duty-free and quota-free export of stone and boulders; so that we can use those in the construction of Padma Bridge,” said Monoj Kumar Roy, additional secretary to the commerce ministry.

A 17-member delegation of Bangladesh, led by Senior Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon of the commerce ministry, and a 10-member delegation from Bhutan, led by Economic Affairs Secretary Dasho Yesi Wangdi, discussed several bilateral issues at the meeting. 

Roy was one of the members of Bangladeshi delegation.

“In the meeting we demanded duty-free benefit on export of guava and pineapple juice from Bangladesh to Bhutan,” Roy told The Daily Star over phone.

“Currently we receive duty-free benefit on export of 90 products to Bhutan,” he added.

On the other hand, Bhutan enjoys zero-duty benefit on export of 18 products to Bangladesh.

“Bhutan demanded duty-benefit on 15 more products to Bangladesh,” Roy informed.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would soon be signed between Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry to work on increasing bilateral trade between the two countries, Roy said.