Statesman News Service
MALDA,(India) Feb. 12. — Export to Bangladesh through Hilli land customs station in South Dinajpur was suspended following the ongoing strike called by the customs clearance association of the neighbouring nation from 30 January, the Indian exporters said today.
They said that the strike would scupper plans to achieve the targeted turnover of more than Rs 500 crore for 2005-2006 financial year.
In the last financial year, while the customs had recorded a turnover of Rs 495 crore through foreign money exchange the Indian government could earn Rs 2 crore as revenue. But this year, till now, the turnover has recorded Rs 275 crore in Hilli LCS.
Several trucks — carrying close to 3000 MT rice — are lined up there, they said.
“The Bangladesh importers had called the strike demanding equality in the system of carrying goods in the lorry with a view to reduce transportation costs of the products exported to Bangladesh,” said Mr Ujjal Saha, general secretary of the exporters coordination committee.
He also said that the truck owners association has decided not to carry excess load above 10 metric tones per truck only in the South Dinajpur though there is no such system in the land customs stations of Malda, Cooch Behar and other places in south Bengal.
“Though we have requested the district magistrate to sort out the problem no solution has come out to withdraw the ongoing strike in Bangladesh.”
Indian exporters have also alleged that cost control is a main factor to boost up agro export to Bangladesh through this region but the customs department is not clearing 1 percent subsidy on agro product export following the system of Duty Entitlement Pass Book schemes. #
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