Business disrupted at Tripura-Bangladesh border

Agartala, Aug 23 (UNI) Business in Akhaura Land Customs station, along Tripura-Bangladesh border remained affected for the third consecutive day today following strike by truck drivers.

Official sources here said the import of cement, stone-chips and fish to Tripura and export of bamboo and rubber to Bangladesh were affected at Akhaura in past 14 days due to restriction on loaded vehicles imposed by Bangladesh.

According to Akhaura Land Customs Importer Exporter's Association (ALCIEA), export business particularly with Tripura had reduced for past one month following restriction on carriage movements.

''Enforcement authority in Bangladesh has stopped movements of loaded trucks to Agartala due to poor conditions of Dharkhar and Chandowa roads and as a result the export business dropped up to 50 per cent since July,'' they said.

According to official records, India had earned about Rs 45 lakh out of the total business of Rs five crore as import duty in last month and this month it has reduced to half.

Meanwhile, the fish markets in the state was severely affected following shortage of supply in Bangladesh.

''Earlier, about 12 MT fishes were supplied to the state everyday, which now stood at five MT,'' officials said.

ALCIEA officials further stated that they have taken up the matter with the authority and would go for strike if the matter was not resovled by this week.

Meanwhile, state Commerce Minister Tapan Chakraborty today told mediapersons here that he had already taken up the matter with the Centre.

UNI