Bangladesh bans import of Indian coal

Shillong, Jan 4 (UNI) The Bangladesh government has banned the import of coal from India following high sulphur content and has directed its export-import federation to import coal from Indonesia or China.

The neighbouring country has alleged that the coal imported from Meghalaya and Assam contains high amount of sulphur, which could cause environmental and health hazards.

''They (Bangladesh) have stopped buying coal from Meghalaya after the ban'' Meghalaya International Exporter Chamber of Commerce, Secretary Dolly Khonglah told UNI here today.

Hundreds of coal-laden trucks remained stranded in Meghalaya and Assam border trading points after the interim government banned the import from the two Indian states from January 1, Ms Khonglah said.

However, this is not the first time that the Bangladesh authorities have banned import of coal from India, she said.

''We have requested the importers to negotiate with their government to withdraw the ban,'' she added.

Ms Khonglah said the caretaker government had issued an order again to Bangladesh Importers and Exporters Federation in capital Dhaka to import shipment of low-sulphur coal in bulk from Indonesia or China.

Earlier, the government had imposed ban stating that sulphuric content of coal in Assam and Meghalaya was seven to nine per cent, which is against the international norm of one per cent.

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