Duty hike by BD hits stone boulder import

India-Bangladesh cross border trade of stone boulder has come to a halt following hike in import duty by Bangladesh authority, according to a report by India-based The Economic Times.

Thousands of stranded trucks, loaded with the goods, in Indian Land Customs Stations (LCS) at Fulbari and Changrabandha have become a major concern for stake-holders of the trade in Indian side.

"We are facing the crisis despite no problem from Indian authority," said President of Changrabandha Exporters Association Mulchand Bucha.

He mentioned that Fulbari and Changrabandha - the two land customs stations in northern side of India's West Bengal state - are the main gateways for Bangladesh to import stone boulders from the neighbouring country.

More than 15 major hilly rivers, including those touching down foothills forming huge river bed in north Bengal region, are the sources of the boulders, highly preferred in civil constructions for its physical property and value for money.

As estimated, around 800 trucks loaded with boulder crosses to Bangladesh a day through these two LCS forming an export volume of over Rs 6.00 billion per annum.

"This has come to a halt. We have taken it up with Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and expecting an early resolution," said General Secretary of West Bengal Exporters Coordination Committee Ujjal Saha.