Indo-Bangla trade faces a serious setback recently, as import and export-related activities through the country's landports almost came to a halt, mainly due to the ongoing political turmoil, officials and businesses said.
The situation turned worse in the last few weeks, as hundreds of goods-laden trucks and lorries remained stranded on both sides of the Indo-Bangla border following frequent spells of strike and blockade.
This sluggish situation at the landports, which recorded a serious fall in their daily earning in the recent days, also caused a serious setback to the government's revenue collection.
According to the statistics of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the Indo-Bangla trade volume stood at US$ 5.3 billion in fiscal year 2012-13, when Bangladesh imported Indian goods worth $ 4.74 billion against the export of $ 563.96 million.
Shariful Islam, an official of Benapole landport, said the landport, on an average, collects daily revenue to the tune of Tk 90 million from the businessmen as export and import duty.
 "But in the recent weeks, we could collect around Tk 7.0 million revenue per day. The situation is same at other landports also."
He said hundreds of goods-laden vehicles have been stuck on both sides of the port, as the ongoing violence on highways has triggered a serious panic among exporters, importers and transport operators.
Shohag Mollah, assistant quality controller at Bhomra landport in Satkkhira, also admitted the fact.
He said the government is losing around Tk 5.0 million per day in the form of revenue collection amid the present volatile political situation.
 "If the situation prolongs further, the port authority might fail to collect even 50 per cent of its respective target (Tk 1.70 billion) for the current fiscal year, 2013-14," he apprehended.
Abdul Motaleb, general secretary of Bangladesh Covered Van Truck Ponnyo Paribahan Malik Association, said nearly 4,000 trucks carry export and import items to and from India everyday.
 "But trading activities through the landports have been almost shut for the last couple of months. Most of the 90,000 covered vans of the association have remained idle for long in the face of frequent hartals and blockades," he concluded. Â
According to the statistics of the Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA), business activities at the country's 16 landports were suspended for 30 days in the last 41 days (until December 11).
A senior official at BLPA said they see no sign of improvement from the situation, as the ongoing countrywide blockade programme is being extended frequently.
President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed said the recent sluggishness at the landports has become a matter of serious concern to the exporters and importers.
"Trade between Bangladesh and India through land routes is being severely affected by the current political situation."
The FBCCI chief termed the landports as the country's most important international trading spots, saying that a number of Bangladeshi goods-laden trucks cannot cross the border because of the ongoing political turmoil.
 "Businessmen are now keeping their fingers crossed over the situation, as the amount of their loss is gradually climbing," he added. Â
A customs commissioner told the FE that in the recent times export-import business between Bangladesh and India through the landports has decreased significantly.
He said loading and unloading activities have been totally stopped for a long time due to fierce political activities enforced by the opposition alliance.
Bangladesh exports goods like raw jute, jute goods, frozen foods, agri-products, woven garments, knitwear, and leather and chemical products to India.
Its imports from India include automobiles, textile and textile articles, products of chemical and allied industries, machinery and mechanical appliances.
Indo-Bangla trade faces severe blow amid political turmoil
Shah Alam Nur | Published: December 13, 2013 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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