Bangladesh to import coal from Indonesia or China

Dawki (Meghalaya), Jul 15 (UNI) The caretaker government in Bangladesh has directed its Importers and Exporters Federation to import coal from Indonesia or China.

The government had enforced a ban on import of coal from two Indian states - Meghalaya and Assam - due to high sulphur content, fearing environmental and health hazard.

''We have asked our importers in Bangladesh to negotiate with their government to withdraw the banned on import of coal from Meghalaya,'' Indian coal exporter R C Agarwal told UNI here today.

The geologists here said the sulphuric content of coal in these states is seven to nine per cent.

This was not the first time that the Bangladesh authorities had banned import of such coal from India, he said.

However, Dhaka withdrew the order after Bangladesh importers pressed hard to allow the import of coal from Meghalaya due to reasonable rate, compared to coal from Indonesia and China.

Mr Agarwal said the coal embargo would hit Indian exporters and the Centre would be losing Rs 200 crore of foreign exchange through export of this mineral.

The decision of the Bangladesh government had also affected many of the people living on both sides of the international border, whose livelihood is through their tea stalls.

''We are hoping that the coal export will resume again otherwise we have to find out an alternative means to survive,'' said S Pohti, a tea-stall owner.

UNI