“On our side, the land port is open and we are doing our best. We have an online system which is operational. On their side (Bangladesh), there are, most probably, Internet problems,” said Kamlesh Saini, Manager, Land Port Authority of India, Petrapole, speaking to The Indian Express over phone.
Saini added, “Exporters and drivers are scared to go to Bangladesh because of the situation there.”
The Bangladesh government has imposed a curfew alongside the internet ban. Over 600 trucks are now stranded on the Indian side as the land port uses an online system to function.
Only 40 trucks crossed from the Indian side to the Bangladesh side of the land port till 10 am on Saturday, said officials at the Petrapole border. No trucks have crossed over to Bangladesh since then, said officials. On an average, 450 to 500 trucks with goods move from India to Bangladesh through this land port every day. About 150 to 200 trucks come to India from Bangladesh on an average every day, the officials added.
“There has been a 30 to 40 per cent drop in passenger movement between India and Bangladesh through this land port in the past few days,” added Saini.
“However, since we are fully operational, we are allowing imports,” Saini added.
“The main issue is, since the internet is not working on the Bangladesh side, it is difficult to send trucks from here. Secondly, what about the security of the drivers in Bangladesh? We want proper security for them there,” said Kartik Chakraborty, secretary, Petrapole Clearing Agents Staff Welfare Association.
“There are about 200 Indian trucks in Bangladesh which have entered the turmoil-hit country over the last few days. While 70 to 80 have unloaded, the others are unloading the goods. We want them to return safely. Authorities should do something,” added Chakraborty.
Paritosh Biswas, former president of the Export Association of Bongaon and an exporter himself, said, “The situation is bad there. We as exporters have stopped sending our goods in trucks. If there is arson in warehouses on the Bangladesh side or on the trucks, we will not even get insurance. The lives of our drivers are at risk too.”
He added, “There is no internet in Bangladesh and therefore duties and import assessment has stopped. Our goods will not be moving into Bangladesh. It is better to keep our trucks and goods in warehouses in India where they are safe. However, there is a cause of concern for perishable and semi-perishable goods now stranded at this side of the border.”
Through the biggest land port, India exports cotton fabrics, motor vehicle chassis, non-alloy steel, yarn, iron and steel products, synthetic fibres, two wheelers, jute seeds, machinery parts, books and papers, cereals and other food products to Bangladesh. India imports jute, readymade garments, betel nut, rice bran among other products from Bangladesh.
Petrapole is located in Bongaon along the international border between India and Bangladesh, at a distance of about 80 km from Kolkata. Nearly 30 per cent of land-based trade between India and Bangladesh takes place through Petrapole. Since its operationalization in February 2016, the land port has been witnessing an increasing number of passenger movement with an average of 22 lakh people crossing the border post on either side each year.
In 2022-2033, the land port saw a total trade of Rs 30,378.47 crore with 1,42,721 cargo truck movements and 19,37,141 passenger movements. In 2023-2024, the land port saw a total trade of Rs 30,420.92 crore with 1,45,280 cargo truck movements and 23,48,707 passenger movements.