Import-export with India suspended through 3 Sylhet land ports

Import-export activities through Sylhet's Sheola land port and Zakiganj customs station are suspended due to obstruction created by Indian authorities.

In addition, traders have also stopped importing stones and limestone through Tamabil land port due to customs complications.

As a result, trucks carrying goods are stuck on both sides of the border, creating a deadlock at the border and inflicting losses to the traders.

Traders have sought the intervention of the governments of both countries to resolve the complications.

According to importers, Indians gathered at the Sutarkandi customs station at Karimganj in Indian state of Assam on December 1 to protest against the alleged persecution of minorities in Bangladesh and the arrest of expelled ISKCON leader Chinmoy. They protested in the border area.

Later, when they created obstacles in import-export activities, import-export of goods through the Sutarkandi customs station was stopped.

On the same day, traders stopped importing stones and limestone through India's Dawki border due to complications related to measurement of goods.

Atiq Hossain, former director of Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industries and president of the Stone Importers Group, said, “All types of import and export through India's Sutarkandi and Karimganj borders are closed due to the ISKCON issue.”

“Due to the Indian obstruction, no vehicles carrying goods could enter Bangladesh from India or vice versa,” he added.

Importers claimed that traders are facing huge losses due to goods being stuck at the border. Importers have to pay interest on bank loans every day. Due to the closure of stone and limestone imports, workers of loading and unloading and local stone crushing mills have become unemployed.

Traders and workers have sought the cooperation of the authorities to resolve this situation as soon as possible.