Widespread public protests triggered the suspension of trade activities at South Dinajpur’s Hili international land port. Trucks loaded with green chillies and onions, ready to cross the border, were abruptly halted by the Hili Exporters Association in response to Bangladesh unrest. The former Bangladeshi government declared a three-day national holiday, imposed an indefinite curfew, and suspended internet and mobile services, cutting off communication between exporters and their Bangladeshi counterparts.
Dhiraj Adhikari, Joint Secretary of the Hili Exporters Association, remarked: “The situation in Bangladesh is highly volatile. Mobile internet services and banking services are down. We have temporarily halted the dispatch of trucks carrying onions and green chillies through the Hili border. Trade will remain suspended until stability is restored.” This suspension risks the rotting of perishable goods, potentially leading to substantial financial losses for exporters. “We are closely monitoring the situation,” Adhikari added.
At the Mahadipur International land port in Malda, 25 lorries carrying raw vegetables remain stranded in Bangladesh due to a three-day halt in bilateral trade, effective from August 5 to August 7. Approximately 100 trucks currently face delays, with a single day of trade loss estimated at Rs 18 crore. Ujjwal Saha, State Secretary of the West Bengal Exporters Coordination Committee, stated, “We are in contact with the High Commission in Bangladesh to ensure the safety of truck drivers and their assistants. Necessary measures are being taken.”
Cargo transport between India-Bangladesh and Bhutan-Bangladesh at the Changrabandha land port in Cooch Behar faces indefinite suspension following recent unrest and the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This suspension, beginning Monday morning, has created a backlog at the port.
Manoj Kumar Kanu, President of the Changrabandha Export Association, noted: “A curfew has been reimposed in Bangladesh since Sunday evening, halting all export and import activities. Many vehicles have been stranded since Monday morning. Export and import operations will remain closed until the situation stabilizes, causing significant losses for traders.”
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