United News of Bangladesh

Darshana Railway Station, once the heartbeat of Chuadanga’s trade, now stands silent and deserted as cross-border imports collapse, affecting revenue collection and leaving countless workers jobless. The decline has been dramatic as official figures show the station earned Tk 26.94 crore in revenue in the 2023-24 fiscal year. So far this fiscal year, the figure has dropped to only Tk 11.40 crore, a fall of nearly 60 per cent. Until recently, trains laden with imported goods such as corn, stone, onions, China clay, and gypsum and soybean meal would arrive daily, keeping hundreds of labourers, truckers and clearing agents engaged. Now, the scene has changed completely as only a handful of freight wagons carrying fly ash arrive occasionally, and even those are often unloaded elsewhere. Darshana was once the preferred entry point for traders due to its lower costs and strong logistical support. But the combination of complexities in opening letters of credit (LCs), a dollar shortage and uncertainty following the recent change in government has slowed imports to a crawl. As a result, 9,749 freight wagons brought in 576,559 metric tonnes of goods from India during the last fiscal year. This year, the number has fallen to 4,486 wagons carrying only 252,101 tonnes, less than half the previous volume, officials said. Operation of Balla Land Port suspended before it begins They said the slowdown has taken a devastating toll on those who depend on the yard for their livelihoods. Hundreds of transport workers and manual labourers have been rendered jobless. Some have switched professions, while many have migrated to other districts in search of work. “It feels like the Covid-19 days again. We sit idle all day because no trains come,” said yard labourer Saidul Islam, struggling to feed his family. Trucker Titu Mia echoed the sentiment. “Before, I could make two or three trips a day. Now, I hardly manage one trip in three days.” Truck owners say their vehicles remain idle for weeks, causing financial losses and mechanical deterioration. “We’re incurring losses every month. Many trucks are simply parked as there’s no business,” said one owner. Govt shuts 3 land ports; suspends operations of another

Import and export activities between Bangladesh and India through the Hili land port in Dinajpur have been suspended for six days due to the upcoming Durga Puja. This decision was made by Indian exporters and customs C&F agents. The suspension will be effective from October 9 until October 14. However, passenger movement with valid passports and visas through the Hili immigration checkpoint will remain unaffected during this period. Bangladesh missing hilsa export target to India for Durga Puja since 2019 Sakhawat Hossain Shiplu, President of the Hili Land Port Import-Export Group, said that the import-export activities will resume on October 15. However, businesses will be allowed to clear goods imported from India during non-holiday periods. Shahinur Islam Mondol, General Secretary of the Hili Customs Clearing and Forwarding Agents Association, mentioned that Rajesh Agarwala, Vice-President of the Indian Hili Exporters and Customs Clearing Agents Association, informed them through a letter about the suspension from October 9 to 14. A source from the Hili Land Customs Station added that except for public holidays during the Puja, customs operations will continue as usual. Traders can clear their goods from the port's warehouse by paying the applicable government taxes. Meanwhile, Md. Badiuzzaman, officer-in-charge of the Hili Immigration Checkpost, confirmed that despite the halt in import-export activities, passengers with valid passports and visas will still be able to travel between Bangladesh and India through the checkpoint. All immigration activities are open from 9 am to 6:30 pm every day, he added.