New Delhi <\/p>\n
India\u2019s trade with Bangladesh through the Petrapole\u2013Benapole route – South Asia\u2019s largest land port system \u2013 is witnessing an over 10-hour stoppage daily July onwards, industry sources have said. <\/p>\n
Trade between the two countries is supposed to be carried out round-the-clock for six days a week (barring Friday). \u201cThe ten-hour stoppage means over 100 trucks get stuck or await clearances at the land port every day,\u201d a source tracking the matter told businessline<\/i>. <\/p>\n
The Petrapole border is located on the Indian side in West Bengal, some 80 km from the State capital of Kolkata. Benapole is located on the Bangladesh side. The land port route accounts for major share of bilateral trade which stood at $14.01 billion in FY24. <\/p>\n
Exporters using this route told businessline, <\/i>the crux of the problem lies in absence of clearances for vehicular movement; issue of passes to trucks to move through the borders. While Bangladesh land port officials allege that vehicle passes are not issued by India after 6 pm, Indian clearing agents say Bangladesh stops issuing entry passes after 4 pm. <\/p>\n
\u201cBangladesh has not yet provided any explanation for such a move. Neither has India given a clear picture of what is happening. While over 330 trucks continue to get clearances every day, this happens only before 6 pm,\u201d an exporter said adding that the problem has begun July 11 onwards. <\/p>\n
Bangladesh officials in their local media have reportedly put the onus on India, while Indian custom officials deny knowledge of any such slowdown in issue of vehicle passes. <\/p>\n
Concerns persist <\/b><\/p>\n
The Petrapole Clearing Agents Staff Welfare Association has already raised concerns on the matter with the Bangladesh High Commission in India and across various government departments in India. <\/p>\n
In letters to Assistant Commissioner of Customs (Import) at ICP Petrapole, Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh, and other departments (seen by businessline<\/i>), it said, while the Petrapole land port is supposed to be operational 24X7, \u201clabour at ICP (integrated check post) Petrapole does not work after 6 pm\u201d. <\/p>\n
It also stated, Bangladesh does not issue vehicle passes after 4 pm, while weighbridges in the neighbouring country are unmanned between 10 pm and 10 am. <\/p>\n
\u201cCustoms officers at the border gate routinely leave their offices without informing their Indian counterparts,\u201d one of the letters stated. It added that drivers get \u201cstranded overnight\u201d while awaiting resumption of cargo movement. <\/p>\n
The clearing agents also claim, internet connectivity issues in Bangladesh lead to trucks queuing up without any clarity on resumption of operations. <\/p>\n
Bangladesh is India\u2019s biggest trade partner in South Asia and India is the second biggest trade partner of Bangladesh in Asia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Truck movement data <\/b><\/p>\n
Data show that on July 1, some 388 trucks crossed over to Benapole. Of these, 228 vehciles moved between 6 am and 6 pm, while 160 was between 6 pm and midnight. The number from July 2 \u2013 July 10 has been in the 260 \u2013 300 range, with majority getting clearances \u2013 some 150 to 260 \u2013 in the 6 am and 6 pm slot, while post-6 pm some 150-odd trucks were cleared. <\/p>\n
From July 11, when truck movement post 6 pm stopped, clearances received were for 384 (July 11), 331 (July 12), 0 (July 13), 357 (July 14), 373 (July 15) and 378 (July 16) vehicles, respectively. <\/p>\n
India\u2013Bangladesh has been targeting movement of nearly 500 trucks along the Petrapole\u2013Benapole border route. <\/p>\n