All kinds of export and import activities with India through Zakiganj land customs station in Sylhet district have remained suspended today in the face of protest by Indians.
Members of Sanatani Oikya Mancha, a group in Sreebhumi (Karimganj) of Assam, staged a protest at India’s Sreebhumi customs station around noon, halting the trade activates, according to sources in Sreebhumi.
Protesters in Sribhumi burned items such as potatoes and cakes exported through Sylhet’s Sheola land port and declared a boycott of Bangladeshi products, the sources added.
Video footage showed some protesters attempting to breach the border barricade, but they were stopped by Indian police and the Border Security Force (BSF).
Jahangir Hossain, revenue officer of Zakiganj customs station, confirmed the suspension, stating that protesters in Sreebhumi turned back trucks carrying goods imported by Bangladeshi businessmen.
“Our efforts to contact Indian customs officials went unanswered,” he said.
Earlier in the morning, about six tonnes of oranges were imported into Bangladesh from Sribhumi (Karimganj) in India through the Zakiganj customs station.
He noted that while no goods have been exported from Bangladesh to India via Zakiganj for a long time, certain items, including fruits, are imported. Meanwhile, goods from Bangladeshi companies such as Pran and Akij are regularly exported to India through Sheola (Sutarkandi) Land Port.
Protests reportedly ensued from the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh, sparking tension across the border.
Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, an MLA from Assam, urged Indian authorities to halt cross-border trade via the Sutarkandi border and Sribhumi Steamer Ghat until the situation in Bangladesh normalises.
He wrote, “The people of Sribhumi district are deeply upset over the arrest of Chinmoy Das.”
Earlier on Sunday, some Indians also protested in the border area of Assam’s Sribhumi, across the Sheola and Zakiganj borders in Sylhet.
Meanwhile, trade through Chatlapur customs station in Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar have remained closed since last Wednesday due to similar protests.
