SYLHET, Dec 4: Protesters from an organization called 'Sanatani Oikya Mancha' in Sribhumi Karimganj, India, have stopped all commercial activities, including import and export, through Zakiganj Land Customs Station in Sylhet. This has also affected other ports.
According to sources at the customs station, Bangladesh imports oranges, Satkara, and ginger through this station. Last Monday, the organization started protesting in the Karimganj Customs Station area of Sribhumi, India. Their programme was called 'Chalo Bangladesh'. After that, the protesters stopped all kinds of commercial activities, including import and export with India, through the Zakiganj customs station. At Last, Monday morning, six tons of oranges were imported into Bangladesh from Sribhumi Karimganj, India through the Zakiganj station.
Meanwhile, the import of stones from India and the export of various products from Bangladesh are stopped at the Shewola Sutarkandi Customs Station in Bianibazar. No goods from India have entered Bangladesh through Shewla Land Port and Zakiganj Customs Station since Wednesday (December 4) morning.
On the other hand, the import of stone and coal through Tamabil Land Port in Sylhet has been suspended for 16 days due to clay and garbage in stone-laden trucks and weight complications on the 'weigh scale'. In all, imports and exports with India have been suspended through two land ports and one customs station in Sylhet.
However, the port authorities have not officially announced the suspension of import and export with India. The port's activities have been suspended since the goods are not coming from India, said the concerned people.
According to field sources, since last Sunday, Indian people have been protesting across the Sylhet border in protest against the arrest of expelled ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das.
When the protesters were preparing to enter the Bangladesh border at one stage, the BSF and police stopped them. Later on, in the face of the protesters' obstruction, the import and export of goods through Sutarkandi Customs Station was stopped. A similar situation arose at Karimganj (Sribhumi) Customs Station in India. The same situation prevailed at this station from December 4.
In this regard, Imran Matabbar, in charge of the Immigration Police at Shewla Land Port, said that passenger crossing has been normal since Wednesday morning. But import and export have been stopped.
Revenue Officer at Zakiganj Land Customs Station Muhammad Arifuddin said that no goods have come from India through this station since Wednesday morning. Naturally, fewer goods come through this station. The port's official activities are normal. If goods come from the other side (India), we will pay customs duties on them through the appropriate process, He said.
Sylhet District Stone Importers Group President Md Atiq Hossain said, "Discussions are underway with the concerned parties to resolve the problem that has arisen with stone imports. We hope that imports will resume within a week."
Tanvir Hossain, Revenue Officer at Tamabil Customs said, "Our activities are Normal. This situation exists because traders have stopped importing stones. We have informed the higher authorities about the matter."
