The Burimari Land Port in Patgram, Lalmonirhat, will remain closed for three consecutive days starting Wednesday (Feb 11) ahead of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election and referendum, officials said Tuesday.

The port’s import-export activities will be suspended on Wednesday and Thursday as part of special election arrangements, and Friday is already a weekly holiday, resulting in a three-day closure.

Faruk Hossain, president, and ASM Niyaz Nahid, general secretary of the Burimari C&F Agents Association, confirmed the closure in the evening.

The C&F Agents Association issued a letter on February 9, citing instructions from the Ministry of Public Administration. The letter informed stakeholders, including customs authorities in Burimari, India’s Changrabandha, Bhutan, port authorities, BGB-BSF commanders, importers-exporters associations, drivers, workers, bank branches, police, immigration offices, and intelligence agencies, about the special holiday on February 11 and 12. Normal operations will resume on February 14.

Meanwhile, Burimari Land Port Immigration sources said the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a letter directing the suspension of inbound and outbound movements through the immigration checkpoints from 6:00 am on February 12 to 6:00 am on February 13 to ensure smooth election activities.

Faruk Hossain said, “Following government instructions for the 13th parliamentary election, import-export activities will remain closed for two days, plus the weekly holiday on Friday, making it a total of three days. Business operations will resume on February 14.”

SI Saifur Rahman of the Burimari Immigration Police confirmed receiving the ministry’s letter regarding the election. Assistant Commissioner of Burimari Customs Delwar Hossain said traders had requested closure for two days, and along with the weekly holiday, the port will remain inactive for three days.