Bhumika Chauhan
In an industry where precision, speed, and trust dictate success, Debashis Mitra has emerged as a leader who blends strategic vision with an unwavering commitment to service. As the Founder and CEO of Behag Overseas, he has transformed a modest start into a logistics powerhouse that connects markets, empowers businesses, and keeps trade flowing across borders.
A Vision Beyond Employment
For most MBA graduates, the finish line is a job offer. For Mitra, it was the starting point of a bigger dream—to work for himself and create opportunities for others.
Growing up in a suburban town nearly 90 kilometres from Kolkata, Mitra completed his post-graduation in Sociology from the University of Kalyani before pursuing an MBA. This combination of understanding people and mastering business strategy laid the groundwork for his career.
In 1999, he entered the logistics sector with a salary of just ₹2,000 a month. Over the next decade, he honed his expertise, earned the Ministry of Finance’s Customs Broker License, and built the confidence to take the entrepreneurial leap. In 2011, Behag Overseas was born—a company grounded in credibility from its very first day.
From One Desk to a Regional Network
What began in a small table-space office in Kolkata has grown into a network of 10 offices across West Bengal and Guwahati, supported by a modern headquarters in Kolkata. Behag Overseas now operates a fleet of 17 in-house trucks and manages warehouse facilities in Bangaon and Basirhat, offering both covered and open storage spaces to meet diverse client needs.
Strategically positioned at key land ports such as Petrapole-Benapole and Ghojadanga-Bhomra, the company plays a pivotal role in trade with Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal—making it a vital player in the eastern and northeastern logistics corridor.
For Mitra, the mission goes beyond transportation:
“At Behag Overseas, we don’t just move cargo—we facilitate commerce, foster trust, and power economic connectivity across borders.”
The Behag Philosophy – Service Above All
In an industry often clouded by overpromises and vague commitments, Mitra built Behag Overseas on three uncompromising pillars—honesty, transparency, and service. The company’s mantra, “Service, Service, and Service,” reflects a deep-rooted belief that every interaction with a client should be straightforward, dependable, and value-driven.
This philosophy has earned Behag Overseas long-standing relationships with clients who view the company as a partner in their growth rather than just a service provider.
Resilience in Action
Challenges are part of the logistics landscape, but Behag Overseas sees them as opportunities for innovation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when global supply chains were under immense strain, the company worked without pause—365 days a year, 24/7—ensuring uninterrupted cargo movement for clients. High-stakes projects, such as the Adani Power Plant clearance in Godda, further demonstrated the team’s ability to deliver precision-driven, large-scale operations under tight timelines.
Leadership that Empowers
Mitra’s leadership style is defined by empowerment and collaboration. He believes in creating an environment where his team feels trusted to take ownership and encouraged to innovate.
“Leadership is about building people, not just processes,” he says. “When your team feels valued, trusted, and challenged, extraordinary outcomes follow.”
This approach has shaped a strong, committed workforce that mirrors the company’s values of integrity, accountability, and excellence. Many of Behag Overseas’ achievements can be traced to this shared sense of responsibility.
Looking Ahead – Expanding Impact
While Behag Overseas has established itself as a trusted name in Indian logistics, Mitra’s ambition is to make it a cornerstone of India’s cross-border trade infrastructure. The goal is not merely growth in scale, but growth in impact—empowering regional economies, streamlining international trade, and setting a benchmark for reliability and innovation.
His vision aligns with the evolving needs of global commerce, where technology, agility, and human expertise must work hand-in-hand to meet rising expectations.
A Journey Still Unfolding
From earning ₹2,000 a month in his first job to leading a multi-location logistics enterprise, Debashis Mitra’s journey reflects what can be achieved through resilience, clear values, and an unyielding vision.
Today, Behag Overseas stands as more than a logistics company—it is a bridge between nations, a trusted partner to businesses, and proof that success built on integrity is both sustainable and scalable.
As Mitra looks to the future, his words echo the mindset that has brought him this far:
“We are still on our journey. The true turning point is yet to come.”
