Trading at the border market (haat) at Baliamari border in Rajibpur upazila goes on at a snail’s pace, failing to live up to people’s expectations.
A visit to the haat last Wednesday revealed that only a handful of shops have been set up by both Bangladeshi and Indian traders.
Indian produce like ginger, bananas, arum, oranges and hilly potatoes are sold in the haat while Bangladeshi products such as shirts, jackets, sweaters, betel nuts, brinjals, plastic and melamine products are available.
“We sell arum, banana and shimla potato every week in this market,” said Jayant, 38, and B Sangma, 40, from Meghalaya province in India.
Indians Monilal Sangma said they sold ginger bottle gourd, parbal and brinjal.
Melamine and plastics products, jackets, and other Bangladeshi items are in high demand by Indian nationals, but BSF personnel prevent Indian citizens from buying those, alleged some Bangladeshi traders at the haat.
They said because of this alleged interference by the BSF, Indian buyers were reluctant to enter the Border Haat and thus their sale was affected.
On the other hand some Bangladeshi buyers said a syndicate purchased a large portion of Indian ginger and oranges at a time, depriving general customers.
Rajibpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdul Latif Khan said the authorities were trying to improve the condition of the weekly trade at the haat.
The Border Haat was launched in Baliamari border area, Rajibpur upazila, Kurigram district on July 23, 2011.
Former Bangladesh commerce minister Faruk Khan and his Indian counterpart jointly inaugurated the haat.
A total of 50 traders from both India and Bangladesh sell their wares, with no buyer being allowed to purchase products worth more than $50.
