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Indian traders have announced an indefinite suspension of all import-export activities through the Hili Land Port in Dinajpur from Sunday, August 30, citing a lack of adequate facilities compared with other land ports in West Bengal.
The decision was communicated to Bangladeshi traders through a letter from the Hili Exporters and Customs Clearing Agents Association on Saturday night.
According to the association, Hili is losing out to other land ports in West Bengal in terms of commercial facilities and opportunities.
Indian traders said they have been facing increasing difficulties while conducting business through the port and are therefore being pushed into a disadvantaged position.
Bikash Mondal, secretary of the Indian Hili Exporters and Customs Clearing Agents Association, confirmed the decision, saying that no goods would be exported to Bangladesh and no goods would be imported from Bangladesh through Hili from Sunday.
He said the suspension would continue indefinitely unless the traders’ business interests were protected and the problems at the port were resolved.
Bangladeshi Hili port officials said the suspension would affect bilateral goods trade, although internal activities at the Bangladesh side of the port would continue normally.
Passenger movement through the Hili immigration checkpoint is also expected to remain operational.
The latest move is likely to disrupt trade between Bangladesh and India through one of the country’s important land ports, particularly if the suspension continues for an extended period.