Trade between India and Bangladesh via the Ghojadanga land port in North 24-Parganas was held up for a few hours on Tuesday as drivers of Indian cargo refused to cross the international border to protest alleged assaults on them by goons near Bangladesh’s Bhomra port area.
Export and import activities resumed after exporters and transporters of the two countries held talks with drivers and promised them safety in Bangladesh.
“The suspension of services by drivers resulted in over 200 cargo containers being stranded outside Ghojadanga land port.... As cargo clearance along the India-Bangladesh border is time-consuming, the disruption created a backlog and caused more delay for other vehicles, causing losses to exporters and importers,” said a source.
On Tuesday afternoon, drivers blocked the export import channel inside the port.
As no cargo from Bhomra could enter the port, import activities were also held up, sources said.
Drivers alleged that villagers in Bhomra, of Satkhira district in Bangladesh, supported by armed goons, often force them to ply on a kutcha stretch despite a metalled road in existence.
“Containers carry 54 tonne of materials. There is a good pucca road, but they don’t allow us to ply on it.... This lengthens the trip and damages vehicles. If we ask why, some local people beat up some drivers. We protested today (Tuesday) to bring the matter to the notice of authorities on both sides,” Bipul Das, an Indian cargo driver said.
Manir Islam Gazi, another driver, said that on Monday night, Bangladeshi goons in Bhomra assaulted over a dozen Indian cargo drivers and cleaners.
A senior BSF officer of the South Bengal Frontier in Calcutta said the impasse was resolved. “There was a dispute between drivers of the two countries.... There was no need for official intervention. Transporters of the two countries sorted out the problem and trade resumed,” he said.
