Trade through Sylhet borders suspended for 3 days
Published: 04 December 2024, 7:45:31
Trade between Bangladesh and India through several ports in Sylhet district has been suspended for three consecutive days due to protests by an Indian organisation ‘Sanatani Oikya Mancha’.
The organisation staged demonstrations in Sribhumi Karimganj area of India, halting all commercial activities at key border points.
The protests, which began on Monday, disrupted trade at Zakiganj Customs Station, a key point through which Bangladesh imports oranges, satkara, and ginger. The protests were part of a program called ‘Chalo Bangladesh’, aimed at expressing dissatisfaction over the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former ISKCON leader accused of atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh.
The protesters gathered in large numbers at the Karimganj Customs Station, preventing the movement of goods between the two countries.As a result, no goods from India have entered Bangladesh through Zakiganj and Shewla Sutarkandi Customs Stations since Wednesday.
Additionally, the import of stones from India and the export of goods from Bangladesh through the Shewla Sutarkandi customs station have been suspended. Similarly, the Tamabil Land Port has faced disruptions for 16 days due to complications involving stone-laden trucks and issues with weight scales.
Although no official announcement has been made regarding the suspension, port authorities have confirmed that activities have been halted as goods are not arriving from India.
In Zakiganj, Muhammad Arifuddin, the revenue officer, stated that although the port’s official activities remain normal, no goods have been received since the protests began.
Imran Matabbar, in charge of immigration at Shewla Land Port, mentioned that while passenger crossing has remained unaffected, imports and exports have been stopped.
It is learned that since last Sunday, Indian people have been protesting across the Sylhet border in protest against the arrest of expelled ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is accused of atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh. Hundreds of Hindus gathered in a procession at Sutarkandi Customs Station in Karimganj district, India, on Sunday, announcing the ‘Chalo Bangladesh’ program under the banner of Sanatani Oikya Mancha.
When the protesters were preparing to enter the Bangladesh border at one stage, the BSF and police stopped them. Later, in the face of the protesters’ obstruction, the import and export of goods through Sutarkandi Customs Station was stopped. A similar situation arose at Karimganj (Sribhumi) Customs Station in India. The same situation prevailed at this station
till today.
Despite the disruption, Sylhet District Stone Importers Group President Md. Atiq Hossain expressed hope that the issue would be resolved within a week. The situation remains fluid as discussions continue between the concerned parties to resume trade.
The protests have raised concerns about the impact on cross-border commerce and the flow of essential goods and both Indian and Bangladeshi authorities are working to address the situation.
