Indo-Bangla trade affected due to Tripura customs strike

Agartala, May 8: The trade between India and Bangladesh to Tripura remained suspended for the past few days following strike by the land customs officials to protest the kidnapping of two customs officials by militants in Meghalaya.

Official sources said the border trade had virtually been stopped in about 20 land customs points following the indefinite period strike.

On April 20, a militant group of Meghalaya kidnapped two customs officers, took them to Bangladesh and demanded a ransom of Rs 1.5 crore.

In protest against the kidnapping, the six organisations of the customs employee of Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Asom went on an indefinite strike to force the Centre to take initiative for the release of the kidnapped customs officials.

Goods worths Rs 90 lakh are traded daily between India and Bangladesh to Tripura. However, the Agartala-Dhaka bus services remained unaffected despite the strike, the sources added.

UNI