Need for infrastructure improvement at Tripura-Bangladesh border

Agartala, June 02 (UNI) The Exporters and Importers Association of Tripura today submitted a memorandum to State Commerce Minister Jitendra Choudhury to demand improved infrastructure for the Land Custom Stations of the Bangladesh side at Tripura-Bangladesh border.

Bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh through the Northeast remained suspended for the past ten days with traders continuing a strike for upgradation of business infrastructure across the border.

The Indo-Bangla Exporters-Importers Association alleged that despite repeated demands and both the governments' decisions to upgrade the necessary infrastructure, including roads and loading facilities, Dhaka remained reluctant to take any steps and as a result, the volume of trade had been reducing.

Thousands of trucks, loaded with cement, various construction materials, fish and garments from the Bangladesh side and fruits and vegetables from the Indian side, were stranded along the border here, the traders said.

The business associations of Bangladesh had also been demanding improvement of infrastructure on the Bangladesh side.

According to official estimates, the daily volume of trade between India and Bangladesh is about Rs one crore in the 20-odd Land Customs Stations (LCS) located along the NE.

''Since the past 20 years, the Tripura government has been urging the Centre to open more trade and rail lines with Bangladesh but the talks had not materialised so far and though Bangladesh has a trade deficit with India, it is in surplus with the NE states. The export-import business between the region and Bangladesh has scope for further improvement,'' Mr Chowdhury added.

UNI BB DPM AB 1239