AGARTALA, January 14 (TIWN): The bilateral trade between Tripura and Bangladesh normalized with the regularization of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) weigh bridge. The weigh bridge, which got paralysed on January 11 was maintained later to start the trade from January 13, said Export and Import Secretary Habul Biswas today. However but the recent road blockade at the neighbouring country Bangladesh brough the trade volume between the two country down, said Biswas.

Talking to TIWN today, Export and Import Secretary Habul Biswas said that on the arrival of the Land Port Authority (LPA) Chairman YS Sherawat, the concerned authority of the Agartala ICP raised the issue of the damage of the weigh bridge and asked to increase the ICP staffs. Adding to that Mr. Biswas said that the trade between Tripura and Bangladesh normalized with the regularization of the ICP weigh bridge, which remained paralysed earlier. Biswas also said that the LPA Chairman Sherawat also stressed on regular trade without any disruption.

Export and Import Secretary Habul Biswas further added that the recent ongoing road blockade at the neighbouring Bangladesh brought the trade volume between Tripura and Bangladesh down.

However it is mentionable here Biswas earlier alleged that the Land port Authority of India (LPAI) has been playing a negligent role over the maintenance of the weigh bridge, whereas on the other the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) has been intentionally delaying several pending works. This has resulted several clash between the Indian and Bangladesh truck drivers, said Biswas.

Mr. Biswas earlier talking to TIWN alleged that since after the inauguration of the modernized Integrated Check post (ICP), the concerned weigh bridge has undergone several fault resulting the trade between Tripura and Bangladesh to shutdown.    

Earlier the EIAT had launched several indefinite strikes protesting hike of transport charge by CWC after the commission of the ICP. But Transport tariff had tripled and CWC did not pay any attention to the demand of EIAT, which insisted to suspend all trade at Akhaura.

The Akhaura ICP, 150 km east of Bangladesh capital Dhaka and 5 km west of capital Agartala, is Indo-Bangla’s biggest trade point with northeast India. An average of 200 Bangladeshi loaded trucks comes to the state every day. Notably, the first of its kind multi-facility Akhaura Integrated Check Post along Indo-Bangla border was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde. The ICP, built at a cost of Rs 74 crore, has a modern terminal building, well equipped customs and immigration centers, high security equipment, weigh bridges, currency exchange, internet facility and banks.