Although import-export activities at the Sona Masjid land port suffered severe disruptions during the first couple of weeks of the blockade, the situation has now regained normalcy – thanks to drives by joint forces, temporary security camps, and security escort provided to trucks.
Local sources said no arson attack or vandalism has taken place since law enforcers started to provide security escort to motorcades of goods-laden trucks from the Sona Masjid – the second largest land port in the country.
Despite some lingering tension stemming from the uncertain political situation, businesspeople and transport workers at the land port said import-export activities are now going on at full throttle.
Sources at the land port claimed that during the first week of the 20-party alliance’s countrywide blockade, pickets torched at least 15 trucks and pickup trucks on the Chapainawabganj-Sona Masjid Highway and Bholahat-Gomostapur Road. During those attacks, at least 15 people including transport workers and law enforcers were also hurt.
Trucks leaving the Sona Masjid land port also reportedly came under attack in Muslimpur, Dhobra, Kansat, Rusulpur and Lalapara areas in Shibganj upazila; while trucks being guarded by law enforcers were not spared from petrol bomb attacks.
As violence escalated, goods-laden trucks from India stopped entering the port from January 10. After virtually no activity at the port for over a week, trucks resumed entering the port on January 19 following a meeting between authorities concerned and representatives from the business community, where assurances were given that all necessary measures would be taken to ensure security on the road.
On the same day, two temporary security camps were set up near Shahbajpur College and Kansat Soleman Ali Degree College – both located in areas allegedly dominated by BNP-Jamaat presence. The move reportedly helped bring down arson attacks in the area.
MM Moynul Islam, officer-in-charge of Shibganj police station, told the Dhaka Tribune that pickets cannot get the courage now to attack trucks on the road since the joint forces started security drives to apprehend the perpetrators. Thana-based area-centric drives have also been able to detain many culprits, he added.
Sona Masjid C&F Agents Association Member Secretary Sohel Ahmed Palash said importers have resumed bringing in goods from across the border following ten days of inactivity at the land port. He added that trucks are now able to move without any danger because of security escort by law enforcement agencies.
Probir Kumar Shil, manager of Panama Port Link – the private company in charge of running the land port, told the Dhaka Tribune that activities at the port are now normal.
He added that on February 1 alone, around 370 trucks entered the port from India; while between January 19 and 31, at least 3,947 Indian trucks entered the port and around 2,200 trucks left the port to deliver goods across the country.
Aminur Rahman, general secretary of labour coordinating body Bandar Sramik Samannay, said no attack has taken place since joint forces drives began and two security camps were set up in the upazila. Trucks could easily be hired now as drivers now felt more secured on the roads, he added.
