Bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India halted due to student protests

22-Jul-2024 10:45 AM

Dhaka. Due to the fierce and massive protests by students against reservation, India's bilateral trade with Bangladesh through waterways and land routes has almost come to a halt.

On 21st July, neither any cargo truck went from India to Bangladesh nor came from Bangladesh to India. In view of the student protests, vigilance and security has been increased on the border, due to which the movement of trucks carrying goods has stopped. 

According to official sources, the Petrapole land port of Bangladesh has become completely inactive and no activity was seen there.

It is worth mentioning that about one-third of the trade between India and Bangladesh through the stock route is done through the Petrapole land port.

Along with Petrapole, the movement of trucks from other land ports like Gojadanga, Phulbari and Mahadipur has also stopped because the Customs Department of Bangladesh has declared a holiday for 21st and 22nd July.

Only movement of essential goods will remain open. Meanwhile, the exporters association committee of West Bengal has said that the trucks which had loaded goods from Mahadipur land port in Malda district and had crossed the Bangladesh border on 20th July have not returned yet but are completely safe.

Although the Bangladesh border is open from the Indian side, Bangladesh has closed it. On 20th July, 48 trucks were sent from India to Bangladesh while 110 trucks came from Bangladesh to India. Currently, about 700 trucks are standing ready at the Indian border, loaded with general trade goods.

These trucks are waiting to go to Bangladesh. 400-450 trucks go to Bangladesh from India through Petropol every day, while 150-200 trucks come to India from there.