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Import-export activities through the Hili land port are expected to resume on Saturday (September 5) after a five-day suspension triggered by a strike by Indian traders.
Indian exporters halted exports to Bangladesh through the port on August 30, citing trade barriers, administrative complications and infrastructure problems. Imports from Bangladesh were also suspended, bringing cross-border trade at Hili to a virtual standstill.
The strike was called off on Thursday after Indian traders held several rounds of talks with officials of the South Dinajpur district administration in Balurghat.
The meetings focused on infrastructure shortcomings, obstacles to sending goods to Bangladesh and other administrative issues raised by the traders.
Bikash Mondal, secretary of the Hili Exporters and Customs Clearing Agents Association in India, said traders withdrew the indefinite strike after receiving assurances from the district administration that the issues would be addressed.
As Friday is a weekly holiday in Bangladesh, port operations will resume on Saturday, he said.
Mondal said traders had also demanded modernisation of the Hili land port, smoother bilateral trade and removal of existing barriers during an administrative meeting held during West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent visit to Balurghat.
The district administration was later instructed to review the issues and take prompt action, he said.
Shahinur Islam Mondal, general secretary of the Bangladesh Hili Customs C&F Agents Association, said they were aware of the meeting between Indian traders and the district administration but had not received official details about the decisions.
He said the Indian traders’ demands were justified, noting that prolonged trade barriers and other complications had significantly reduced business through the Hili land port.
Unless the existing problems are addressed, traders on both sides of the border could face further losses, he added.
