United News of Bangladesh

In the lushgreen hills and tranquil borderlands of Sylhet, a hush has fallen over the once-bustling trade arteries of Tamabil and Sheola land ports. Export activities at these two critical crossings have ground to a halt, the result of an abrupt ban imposed by neighbouring India, a decision sending ripples of distress through Sylhet’s trading community. According to sources, the crux of the issue lies in India’s decision to block the import of goods that it has placed on a restricted list. Ironically, it is precisely these blacklisted items that constitute the lion’s share of exports from Tamabil – which faces India’s picturesque Meghalaya state – and Sheola, which connects with Assam across the serene borders of Sylhet’s Beanibazar upazila. Now, a thick veil of uncertainty looms large over Sylhet’s export future. The ports, once alive with the hum of trade and the rhythm of transnational commerce, are eerily silent. Business leaders have sounded the alarm. Should this impasse endure, Bangladesh stands to lose a vital foothold in the lucrative northeastern market of India, often referred to as the 'Seven Sister' states. Bangladesh in touch with India over push-ins, port-related restrictions: Foreign Adviser This region, historically reliant on imports through these accessible land ports, had emerged as a promising consumer base for Bangladeshi goods. Conversations with local importers and exporters reveal a sobering reality. India, too, has long utilised these routes to ship goods into Bangladesh, drawn by the ease of transit and strategic proximity. This seamless two-way movement had once rendered Bangladeshi products exceptionally competitive and sought-after in India’s remote northeast. Among the items that have typically crossed the border are ready-made garments, fruits, fruit juices, household consumables, plastic products, furniture and crockery. However, most of these fall squarely within the purview of India's newly reinforced restrictions. Faced with this challenge, many traders find little incentive to dispatch the limited number of remaining permissible items, resulting in a de facto cessation of export activities. Adding to the gravity of the situation, sources indicate that numerous manufacturing hubs had been set up in the industrial belts of Habiganj in Sylhet – strategically aligned to serve the demand from across the border. These factories, focused largely on consumer goods and plastic items, are now confronting a precarious future. Unless the restrictions are lifted with urgency, the financial toll on these enterprises could be devastating. Bangladesh-India trade to continue in consumers’ interest: Commerce Adviser The human cost of this disruption is already being felt. Exporters, importers and industrialists are reeling from the sudden turn of events. Not long ago, shipments of plastic products and fruit juice flowed regularly through the ports. Now, those same trucks are being turned away, laden with unsold goods and unmet expectations. Shah Alam, a C&F (Clearing and Forwarding) agent stationed at Sheola Land Port, painted a bleak picture. “Major industrial units will suffer if the export ban continues,” he cautioned. “They may be forced to scale back production. India has not restricted all products, but the ones that are allowed are not imported in large quantities. The ban mainly targets high-volume goods, which has virtually crippled port activities,” he said. He added that a solitary truck of melamine goods managed to cross into India through Sheola on Monday (May 19). But, numerous others bearing plastic and consumer items were compelled to retreat due to the prevailing ban. Echoing the collective anxiety of Sylhet’s business community, Foyez Hasan Ferdous, President of the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, “It’s only natural that India’s restrictions would have a negative impact on Sylhet’s export trade. Both Bangladeshi and Indian businesses are being affected.” Ferdous urged the two nations to seek a diplomatic resolution through constructive bilateral dialogue, emphasising that such an initiative could provide much-needed relief to traders and communities on both sides of the border. Leading RMG exporters stung by India's decision to restrict imports  As the silence at Tamabil and Sheola persists, so too does the hope that reason and resolution will prevail – breathing life once more into the trade routes that have long connected people, goods, and aspirations across borders.

Import and export activities at Sonamasjid Land Port in Chapainawabganj will be suspended for eight consecutive days, from March 29 to April 5, to observe Eid-ul-Fitr. During this period, all trade activities between Bangladesh and India will come to a halt. However, passport-holding passengers will still be allowed to travel through the port's immigration checkpost without any restrictions. Payra Port nothing but a 'poisonous boil' for economy: Adviser Wahiduddin Ruhul Amin, secretary of the Sonamasjid Land Port C&F Agent Association, said that the suspension would include the regular weekly holiday, with operations resuming on April 6. Indian authorities at Mahadipur Land Port Customs, along with the C&F Agent and Exporters Associations, were officially notified about the closure. Meanwhile, at Hili Land Port in Dinajpur, trading activities will be suspended for nine days from March 29 to April 5, in observance of Eid-ul-Fitr. However, loading and unloading of goods within the port will continue on non-public holidays. Like Sonamasjid, passport-holding passengers will be able to pass through the Hili Immigration Checkpost as usual. Trading at Burimari port to be suspended for 8 days due to Eid Nazmul Hossain, general secretary of the Hili Land Port Import-Export Group, said that operations will resume on April 6. Both ports are expected to return to regular operations on the morning of April 6, following the Eid holidays.

Export-import between India and Bangladesh through Sheola, Zakiganj and Tamabil land ports in Sylhet remained suspended since Sunday amid tensions between the two neighboring counties over the arrest and bail denial to former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das. Goods-laden trucks have been stranded on both sides due to the trade suspension, causing losses to traders. Sources at Zakiganj Customs Station said trade activities through Zakiganj land port remained halted since Sunday following demonstrations in India over the arrest of Chinmoy.On December 1, several hundred supporters of Chinmoy gathered at Sutarkandi Customs Station in India’s Karimganj following the arrest of the Hindu priest, disrupting trade activities at Zakiganj land port. 1030 mts rice imported from India thru Benapole in one weekBesides, trade was disrupted at Sutarkandi and Sheola land ports over the same issue.Atik Hussain, a former director of the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said the ISKCON-related unrest led to the suspension of export-import at Sutarkandi and Karimganj land ports in India."No goods-laden vehicles could enter Bangladesh from India since the protests began," he added. Indefinite transport strike enters day 2 in BenapoleAs of Tuesday, around 200 goods-laden trucks were stranded at Sutarkandi land port in India, while another 50 remained stuck at Sheola land port in Bangladesh. Trucks carrying fruits and raw materials were also stranded at Karimganj land port, raising concerns about potential damage to perishable goods.Besides, trade activities through Tamabil land port in Sylhet, remained halted for several days following dispute in the measurement of stone and limestone products at the Dawki border in India.Over 300 trucks carrying stones and limestone remained stranded at Dawki land port in India, opposite to Tamabil Land Port, he said.UNB Benapole correspondent reports: the trade activities between Bangladesh and India are going on in the full swing.A total of 418 goods-laden trucks entered Bangladesh through Benapole port on Tuesday while 189 goods-laden trucks left for India through the land port.Besides, the passenger movement between the two countries through the land port also remained uninterrupted as some 1,800 passengers went to India on Wednesday.In Feni, some students and local people staged demonstrations at Bilonia land port in Parshuram upazila around 11 am on Wednesday protesting the attack on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala of Tripura and ‘provocative statements’ made against Bangladesh over loudspeakers in the bordering area on Sunday.Additional police and Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed in the area on Wednesday to maintain law and order.On November 26, Chattogram Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate Judge Kazi Shariful Islam sent Chinmoy Das to jail rejecting his bail plea in a sedition case.Violence erupted on the court premises amid demonstrations by ISKCON supporters against the bail denial, leaving lawyer Saiful Islam Alif dead. Meanwhile, BGB stepped up vigil along the border to thwart any evil activities and unwanted situations along the bordering area amid growing tension over ex-ISKCON leader issue and attack on Bangladesh diplomatic mission in India’s Agartala.

The government has instructed the authorities concerned to strengthen surveillance and screening of people coming to Bangladesh from countries with confirmed Monekypox cases through the land ports and airports. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) issued a notice in this regard on Sunday. Also read: Monkeypox usually self-limiting but may be severe in some individuals: WHO According to the notice, Monkeypox is not a new disease. It was found among people in West and Middle African countries in the past. Recently it has been detected among people living in European and American countries with no history of travelling in the African countries. People who contracted the virus or came close to the infected people should be listed as suspected patients of Monkeypox, it said.  The suspected patients or patients having symptoms should be taken to government hospitals or Infectious Diseases Hospital and kept in isolation and it  should be reported to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).

Cross-border movement of passengers through land ports has been relaxed, considering the Covid-19 scenario in Bangladesh and the region. With the lifting of the restrictions Thursday, passengers travelling to Bangladesh through land ports will no longer be required to obtain any objection certificate (NOC) from Bangladesh missions abroad. Also, passengers exiting from the country through land ports will not be required to provide prior intimation to the concerned Bangladesh authorities before their exit.   The regular immigration hours and days will resume with immediate effect at the currently operational six land ports – Benapole, Akhaura, Sonamasjid, Hili, Darshana and Burimari – for cross border movement of passengers.  Read: MoFA introduces Public Diplomacy wing

Amid the skyrocketing onion prices in the local market, consignments of Indian variety of the essential kitchen item have finally started entering Bangladesh through different land ports on Saturday.

The government on Sunday banned entry of foreign nationals through the country’s land ports to prevent transmission of coronavirus.