Agartala: Trade operations between India and Bangladesh through key points in Sylhet have been disrupted following protests across the border areas in Bangladesh. Protests reportedly erupted over allegations of minority persecution in Bangladesh and the arrest of an ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das.
Since Tuesday morning, trade has been halted at the Sheola land port and Zakiganj customs station on the Bangladesh side while the Tamabil land port has seen no stone or coal imports for the past 16 days due to logistical challenges. However, trade through India’s Sutarkandi and Sribhumi (Karimganj) customs stations remains suspended due to protest-related disruptions.
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On Sunday, under the banner of the Sanatani Ekta Manch, a “Chalo Bangladesh” campaign was launched, drawing hundreds of protestors to India’s Sutarkandi customs station in Sribhumi district. The demonstration, sparked by reports of minority issues in Bangladesh, escalated as some protestors attempted to approach the border, prompting intervention by the Border Security Force (BSF) and local police. Consequently, goods movement through Sutarkandi customs station came to a halt, affecting operations at Bangladesh’s Sheola port.
A similar disruption occurred on Monday at India’s Sribhumi (Karimganj) customs station where protestors from the Sanatani Ekta Manch blocked the movement of goods. Trade between the two countries has remained suspended since this point.
Adding to the crisis, logistical issues at Sylhet’s Tamabil land port on the Bangladesh side, including weight measurement systems and debris in stone-laden trucks, have stalled stone and coal imports for over two weeks. This has left more than 600 trucks stranded at various border points, carrying goods worth several hundred crores.
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According to officials, despite the disruptions, passenger movement remains unaffected at the Sheola land port. “Trade operations have been suspended since Tuesday morning, though passenger movement continues smoothly,” said Imran Matubber, an immigration police official at Sheola.
Zakiganj customs station revenue officer Muhammad Arifuddin added that while small consignments arrived earlier this week, no goods have entered Bangladesh through the station since Tuesday. He remarked, “Trade volume at this station is typically low, but we are prepared to process goods once they resume.”
Meanwhile, trade activities at the Bholaganj customs station remain unaffected as stone imports continuing normally. However, the ongoing suspension at other major trade points has raised concerns among businesses and traders dependent on cross-border commerce.
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