Trade at Satkhira’s Bhomra land port has been remaining suspend for the last two days in the wake of a disagreement between the Indian customs and the C&F Agents Welfare Association of that country over introducing the car-pass system.
The dispute occurred as the customs at India’s Ghojadanga land port announced to allow import and export of perishable items without enforcing the car-pass system till January 16, which was opposed by the C&F association.
In the last two weeks, both sides exchanged letters and held talks several times, but to no avail, said Bhomra C&F agents.
Assistant Commissioner of customs at Bhomra land port Sharif Al Amin quoted his Ghojadanga port counterpart Binoy Kumar Mondol as saying that the Indian C&F association sought time before introducing the car-pass system.
“Members of the Indian C&F agents association told us that they would not engage in trade as the customs only allowed to import and export perishable items,” said Mostafizur Rahman Nasim, general secretary of Bhomra Land Port C&F Agents Association.
“The Indian C&F agents will only trade if all sorts of goods are allowed to be imported and exported,” he added.
On Tuesday evening, a meeting was held at the customs office at Bhomra land port which was attended by officials of the Indian customs, Bangladesh customs and C&F agents of both countries.
At the meeting, the Indian C&F agents association urged the Indian customs officials not to introduce the car-pass system until June, citing infrastructural problems.
The five-member delegation of the Indian customs at the meeting was led by Binoy Kumar Mondol.
The decision to introduce the car-pass system was made at a meeting between customs officials of both countries in Kolkata in August last year.