Exports to northeast India thru Akhaura fall sharply

Bangladesh’s exports to northeast India through Akhaura land port fell sharply since India began availing transit through Bangladesh for shipment of consignments to its northeastern provinces in June. 
Merchants said that they have virtually lost their export market in northeast India. 
Shipments from Bangladesh on long queues of trucks at Akhaura waiting to enter India is a matter of the past now, they said.
Among 40 exportable items were cement, plastic goods, corrugated iron sheet, iron rod, stone and fish, they said. 
Merchants said their exports abruptly dropped in June when the northeastern provinces of India began getting the supplies from rest of India through Bangladesh. 
India just stopped importing iron rod and corrugated sheets from Bangladesh, president of Akhaura chapter of Clearing and Forwarding Agents’ Association Md Mobarak Hossain told New Age.
Around 100 clearing and forwarding workers suddenly found that they have no work to do, said other leaders of the association. 
Indian shipments on arrival at Ashuganj river port are loaded on trucks on way to Agartala via Akhaura, they said. 
Now, hardly 10 to 15 trucks transport stone from Bangladesh to India’s northeast everyday, down from 100 to 150 trucks doing the job until June. 
India began availing transit through Bangladesh on regular basis on June 16 paying nominal charges.
Bangladesh government extended the transit rights to India amid huge criticism.
Shipping minister Shajahan Khan inaugurated the transit facilities saying they would bring benefits for Bangladesh.
On the same occasion, prime minister’s economic adviser Mashiur Rahman said those who raised the issue of low transit fees should know that the river route would remain unused if India was not allowed to use it.
He justified extension of transit to India saying it would boost trade among the countries in the region. 
The government allowed India to transship its business consignments through Bangladesh charging only Tk 192.22 per tonne of cargo. 
The government ignored Bangladesh Tariff Commission’s recommendations to set the transit fee at Tk 1,058 per tonne of cargo.
Exporter Abbas Uddin said to discourage imports from Bangladesh the Indian government realized Tk5,000 in taxes per tonne of import.
In contrast, he said, an Indian merchant spends a maximum of Tk3,000 for cargo transportation through Bangladesh. 
Akhaura land port customs officer Md Shariful Islam said, Bangladesh’s exports through Akhaura has sharply declined. 
Locals said, that Akaura land port looks deserted since Bangladesh’s exports through it declined. 
Transit through Bangladesh cut down India’s cost of cargo transportation to its northeast.
ore than 1,650km to carry goods 
Kolkata-Agartala distance of 1,650 Km through Guwahati has been reduced to 350km through Bangladesh, said merchants.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net