Stone traders of the country who import the materials from India fear the construction of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge and Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant might be delayed due to price hike of raw materials.
According to local sources, maximum bolder stones for the Padma Bridge and Ruppur power plant are imported through Sona Masjid Land Port under Chapainawbganj from Pakur, famous for stone industry, one of the important revenue-earning districts of newly created Jharkhand State in India.
The stone importers said the authorities of the mega project and power plant decided to import the stones from Pakur as the distance between the places only 90 kilometres.
But the business has become very difficult due to the price hike of the materials over several times. Moreover, traders of India create artificial crisis on the border so that entrance of goods-laden truck get delayed into the territory of Bangladesh.
The importers alleged that the Indian traders are responsible for the higher price of the materials. They think that Bangladesh has nothing to do about it. So they can do anything as they wish.
Biplob Kumer, proprietor of Messrs’ Sarker International, said previously trucks with stones used to enter into the territory of Bangladesh from Pakur by the port. But now, the vehicles have to reach the country through Mehedipur, a land port in West Bengal’s Malda district bordering Bangladesh, facing 7-8 day traffic jam and incurring huge losses.
He also said the Indian traders also forced them to import low quality materials.
Nani Gopal Ghosh, manager of Messrs’ Ghosh Enterprise, said: “The Indian traders mix chunk of earth with the bolder stones and make artificial traffic jam with their syndicates.”
“As a result we cannot deliver the materials timely and it is difficult for us to meet up the target due to low standard stones,” he added.
Stone importer Raib and agent of Messrs’ CNDF, said the government should take steps so that the trucks can enter the country directly.
“If the vehicles unload in the border, of course we have to face jam and incur losses,” he said.
Abdul Wahed, president of Chapainawbganj Commerce and Industry, said: “If this situation is going on, the construction of the Padma Bridge will be delayed and cost of the materials will increase 3 times.”
Sri Sukumer Ghosh, assistant commissioner of Mehedipur land port revenue station, said: “The problem is not permanent. It should be solved immediately to improve the business between the two countries.”
Ahmed Sayed Rubel, assistant commissioner of Sona Masjid Land Port revenue office, said $18.5 tax had been charged on one tonne bolder stones recently and $13 on one tonne stone chips.
He said:“The tax is very high and we think we will inquire the incident soon if the written complain is got from the traders.”
