Belonia landport fails to live up to its expectations
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Mashiur Rahaman
The newly-opened Belonia land-port has failed to boost trade between Bangladesh and India, as in the first two months after it was inaugurated goods worth only Tk15.58 million was exported via the border post.
The country's 14th land customs station was opened to cross-border shipment on October 4 amid hype that Belonia would be used as a launching-pad for southeast Bangladesh's trade with largely-untapped northeast India.
But in the next two and a half months, Bangladeshi manufacturers could export only a tiny amount of bricks and cements through the land-port, while there was no import from the other side of the border.
"Bangladesh exported bricks and cement worth Tk 7.08 million in October and Tk 8.5 million in November," a customs official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"It's a fraction of the exports we had expected when the Belonia land-port was inaugurated by Bangladesh commerce minister and his counterpart in Indian state of Tripura," he said.
President of Feni Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jamal Uddin echoed his frustration, saying export performance through the land-port "fulfilled only half of our expectations."
He said although Bangladeshi sea foods, spices, chips and bakery items have high demand in seven northeastern India states local exporters mostly concentrated their focus on construction materials.
"Export of construction materials is easier through the land-port. Indian customs rules are complex in regard to other items," said Jamal.
He blamed poor port infrastructure, narrow connecting roads and non-cooperative Indian customs authority for obstructing the potentials of Belonia port.
"Two major accidents have already happened on the way to the land-port in the last three months due to narrow road," he said.
Jamal added despite soaring demand of raw wood that northeast India is known for Bangladeshi importers have failed to import any.
He would not elaborate the reason, but other chamber leaders have said New Delhi has imposed an "unofficial ban" on export of Indian wood to Bangladesh through the Belonia land-port.
"Our importers are interested to import raw wood in huge quantity from Tripura and other northeastern Indian states. But the unofficial ban has made the import impossible," said a chamber leader.
"They want us to import furniture instead of raw woods that our importers have no interest in," Jamal added.
He urged both Bangladesh and Indian customs authorities to improve infrastructure and remove restrictions to promote free trade across the border and to exploit maximum benefit out of this land port.
The newly-opened Belonia land-port has failed to boost trade between Bangladesh and India, as in the first two months after it was inaugurated goods worth only Tk15.58 million was exported via the border post.
The country's 14th land customs station was opened to cross-border shipment on October 4 amid hype that Belonia would be used as a launching-pad for southeast Bangladesh's trade with largely-untapped northeast India.
But in the next two and a half months, Bangladeshi manufacturers could export only a tiny amount of bricks and cements through the land-port, while there was no import from the other side of the border.
"Bangladesh exported bricks and cement worth Tk 7.08 million in October and Tk 8.5 million in November," a customs official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"It's a fraction of the exports we had expected when the Belonia land-port was inaugurated by Bangladesh commerce minister and his counterpart in Indian state of Tripura," he said.
President of Feni Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jamal Uddin echoed his frustration, saying export performance through the land-port "fulfilled only half of our expectations."
He said although Bangladeshi sea foods, spices, chips and bakery items have high demand in seven northeastern India states local exporters mostly concentrated their focus on construction materials.
"Export of construction materials is easier through the land-port. Indian customs rules are complex in regard to other items," said Jamal.
He blamed poor port infrastructure, narrow connecting roads and non-cooperative Indian customs authority for obstructing the potentials of Belonia port.
"Two major accidents have already happened on the way to the land-port in the last three months due to narrow road," he said.
Jamal added despite soaring demand of raw wood that northeast India is known for Bangladeshi importers have failed to import any.
He would not elaborate the reason, but other chamber leaders have said New Delhi has imposed an "unofficial ban" on export of Indian wood to Bangladesh through the Belonia land-port.
"Our importers are interested to import raw wood in huge quantity from Tripura and other northeastern Indian states. But the unofficial ban has made the import impossible," said a chamber leader.
"They want us to import furniture instead of raw woods that our importers have no interest in," Jamal added.
He urged both Bangladesh and Indian customs authorities to improve infrastructure and remove restrictions to promote free trade across the border and to exploit maximum benefit out of this land port.