Finally, exporting to India has been started at the country’s largest land port Benapole after a long three-and-a-half months on Sunday (July 5).
Sources alleged that it is an old habit of India to create various obstacles in the way of accepting Bangladeshi products on various occasions, this time they did on plea of coronavirus (Covid-19). But they do not stopped export their goods to Bangladesh. As a result, their monopoly trade was going on.
According to several traders at the port, the import-export trade between the two countries has been suspended since March 22 due to a series of lockdowns by the Indian government to curb the spread of coronavirus. Although various trade associations and port authorities of both the countries met in stages and started import trade from June 6, India was not willing to take export goods from Bangladesh.
Although India initially accepted unilateral trade, Bangladeshi exporters expressed concern over the lack of interest in Indian imports for a week and a half. Because, for three months in a row, it was becoming difficult to keep the quality of the country’s export products intact, soaked in the sun and rain.
Moreover, various types of expenses including truck rent were constantly increasing.
After that, the exporters discussed with the Benapole port users and came to an agreement. If India does not want to take Bangladeshi exports, the country’s imported products will no longer be accepted. When the matter was brought to the notice of the Indian side, trade between the two countries came to a sudden standstill. Import-export trade between the two countries has been suspended since last Wednesday (July 1) morning.
Alhaj Mofizur Rahman Sajan, president of the Benapole C&F Agents Association, said they were not accepting Bangladeshi exports even though India was importing. For which, the exporters announced to stop the import trade from India from the morning of July 1.
“After three and a half months of talks, India is taking Bangladeshi exports,” he said.
Benapole Port Deputy Director Mamun Kabir Tarafdar said the export trade has started after long discussions between the two sides. It is expected that import trade from India will resume on Tuesday as usual.
Kartik Chakraborty, general secretary of the Welfare Staff Association, a C&F agent in the Indian port of Petrapole, said Bangladeshi commodities were not being taken because of the coronavirus. Export trade has started at one stage of special security and fruitful talks between the two countries’ port authorities.