Bangladesh's nod awaited on 24x7 exim trade via Petropole land border

Kolkata: The 24x7 export and import trade between India and Bangladesh to eliminate delay in consignments through Petrapole land border is awaiting the neighbouring country's notification to keep their border gate open round the clock, an official said.

The detention period for trucks at the border has crossed more than 40 days and has reached 55 days, trade bodies said. FICCI has also flagged the long detention issue with Union Commerce secretary BVR Subrahmanyam. The Government of India had issued an order on October 25 that the Petrapole-Benapole border to be operational 24x7 on a trial basis for three months. "We had held a meeting with the stakeholders and the Bangladeshi government. We are completely ready in our end to begin 24x7 operation from our side and awaiting notification from the Benapole border from the Bangladeshi side," Petrapole land port manager Kamlesh Saini told.

Indian exporters at the India-Bangladesh border have expressed discontent over the long waiting period of trucks carrying consignments to Bangladesh, at Petrapole and Ghojadanga land borders, apprehending disruption of shipments. With sudden increase in imports of soya from Bangladesh, the congestion on the Indian side has increased leading to slow exports. FICCI said the space available for warehousing at the border on the India side meant for carrying out export to Bangladesh has reduced significantly and hence has reduced the number of export units per day from 500 units to currently 300 units (goods truck + auto chassis) per day.