Bangladesh imported 6,520.21 metric tonnes (MT) of rice from India through Bhomra Land Port in Satkhira over the past 8 days that authorities hope would help stabilise the country’s rice market. The import began on November 13 after the withdrawal of customs duties on rice imports by the National Board of Revenue (NBR). According to sources at the port authority, after the duty withdrawal, 12 companies approved by the Ministry of Food started importing through Bhomra. Read: 131MT rice imported from India through Hili Land Port Among the imports, Dhaka-based Old Paltan Majumdar Agrotech International imported around 1,861.47 MT of rice in four shipments. These included 770 MT on November 13, 368.5 MT on November 16, 380.97 MT on November 17, and 342 MT on November 18. Mukul Enterprise from Kalai of Satkhira, imported 300 MT in three shipments: 100 MT each on November 13, 14, and 17. Ismail Hossain Milon from Jhikargacha of Jashore, imported 100 MT on November 13, while Abul Monsur Khan from Bogura brought in a total of 500 MT across three dates: 150 MT on November 14 and 16, and 200 MT on November 18. Abu Musa, general secretary of Bhomra Customs C&F Agents Association, said the Indian government had imposed a ban on rice exports to Bangladesh on July 20, 2023. Read: Rice import from India through Benapole port resumes after 2 years Recently the country lifted the ban allowing export to Bangladesh, he said. Abul Kalam Azad, deputy commissioner of Bhomra Land Customs Station, 6,520.21 MT of rice was imported from India through the port in eight days from November 13. If this trend continues, rice imports through this port will increase in the future, he said.

All kinds of activities including loading and unloading of goods at Bhomra Land port of Satkhira halted on Sunday over workers’ demand to raise their pay.   The trouble started on Saturday after the clearing and forwarding agents refused to raise the charges for loading and unloading goods by workers. During the work stoppage, scuffles broke out after a section of workers loyal to the C&F agents started to carry a consignment of fruits imported from India to another truck. Hadiuzzaman Badsha, organizing secretary of the association of the agents, said some unruly workers of a faction of the four workers’ unions carried out the attack on the agent’s staffs when they were helping the workers of another faction unload goods from a fruits-laden truck which came from India.   Read: Trade through Benapole land port suspended for Janmasthami Two staffs of the agent suffered severe injury in the attack and they were undergoing treatment at a hospital, he said threatening that they would go for a tougher movement unless the perpetrators are brought to trial.   Ajaj Ahmed Swapon, vice president of the agents’ association, said they used to pay TK 800 to 1000 to the workers for unloading goods from a truck. “We also increased the wage to Tk 1100 following the demand by the workers,” he said adding that two out of the four workers’ unions agreed to the decision. The dissident workers attacked the agents’ staff and the loyal workers when they were unloading the goods from vehicles, he alleged.     Hafizul Islam, a leader of a faction of the workers’ union, said they abstained from the work on Saturday demanding that the pay is raised to Tk 1200 from existing Tk 1000 for unloading goods from a truck considering current market prices of essential commodities. Maksud Khan, general secretary of the agents’ association, said they will register a case in this connection and the next course of action will be decided after holding meeting with the administration.

The seven-day lockdown in Satkhira district entered the 2nd day on Sunday with people defying  the  health safety protocols amid risks of coronavirus transmission. Though the members of law enforcement agencies have taken position in many important points in the district but no strict measures have been taken yet for defiance of health guidelines. Read: Satkhira goes into lockdown for 7 days People living in rural areas were seen moving without masks and the presence of people in the local markets  is high. The activities at Bhomra land port is normal as the port authorities have been allowed to continue their operation for 6 hours from 8 am tand reports of ignoring health guidelines were also found at the port. The authorities concerned have issued red alert in the bordering areas of the district but allegations have been found that people are still crossing borders illegally in the night. Read: Satkhira put under 7-day strict lockdown According to  the health authorities, a total of 339 people have been found infected with the virus in the district. Of them, 27 are undergoing treatment at Satkhira Medical College and Hospital, 26 at Sadar hospital while the rest 286 are taking treatment at home So far, a total of 48 people have died of Covid-19 in the district while 250 people died with Covid-19 symptoms. Authorities in Satkhira on Saturday imposed a week-long lockdown in the district, following a sudden spike in Covid-19 cases. Read:Bangladesh puts Satkhira border areas on alert The decision was taken to break the chain of coronavirus transmission after the positivity rate in the district was found to be 53 percent, officials said on Saturday.  

Onion prices continue to remain high in Dhaka kitchen markets, despite imports coming into this country from neighbouring India.

After two months and 8 days, trade between India and Bangladesh resumed through Bhomra land port of Satkhira from Tuesday.