AGARTALA, Oct 30 (TIWN): The import-export business and transportation of goods between India and Bangladesh has begun from Thursday, confirmed Habool Biswas, Secretary Agartala Export-Import association.

Talking to TIWN correspondent, Habool Biswas, Secretary Agartala Export-Import association said that, Akhaura Land port business has again resumed from Thursday and a reasonable number of goods loaded trucks have entered the state from Bangladesh.

As it was the first day of work the numbers of goods loaded truck entered the state is less comparing to the other days and with the progress of the days it is expected that the numbers will increase.

It is to be mentioned here that Import export was close for ten days due the festival holidays.

However, Habool Biswas, Secretary Agartala Export-Import association also confirmed that there was supply of fish in the state on 21 and 22 October of this month as the end of the Durga puja marks the celebration with fish.  Keeping in view the demand of the fish in the state on the day of Dashami there was transportation of fish through Akhaura Land port, added Biswas.

The suspension of import and export from both the sides has created a state of irregularity among the traders as Akhaura land port as it is considered as one of the State's most busy and used station for in ward and outward trade with the neighbouring Bangladesh.

The Akhaura land custom station has been mainly dealing with import business from Bangladesh for catering the domestic need of fish, edible items, melamine and toiletries, ready-made garments and stones chips in Tripura, but the suspension of formal trade has affected the state markets.

Sources in the Agartala Export-Import Association said that the border trade with Bangladesh along erstwhile Akhaura check-post had severely hit since the devolution of the Indian rupee vs. Dollar price. The situation was further aggravated with the advent of political turmoil in Bangladesh as daily import from Bangladesh came down from the average of Rs. 1.5 crore to Rs. 15-20 lakh.

According to the experts there is lots of possibility to take the international trade policy. International trade between India and Bangladesh started from 1995-96. Before international trade it was illegal trade. At present there are eight land custom stations in Tripura. These are Agartala, Sonamura, Belonia, Muhuripur, Khowai, Dhalaighat, Manughat, and Raghnaghat.