Exporters using the Mahadipur land port of Malda as well as residents of the district have demanded immediate resumption of passenger movement between India and Bangladesh through the route.

Since March 15, 2022, people’s movement has stopped along the land port.

“Because of Covid-19, the Centre shut passenger traffic through all land ports of the country. In April this year, the government withdrew the restriction, and the movement of people resumed through land borders. However, as Mahadipur was not named in the list of land ports from where the curbs were lifted, people can’t move between India and Bangladesh through this route,” said Prasenjit Ghosh, secretary, Mahadipur Exporters’ Association.

The land port of Malda sits on the opposite side of Sona Masjid in Chapai-Nawabganj district of Bangladesh.

Sources said that before the Covid-19 pandemic, around 10,000 people would move through the land port from India and Bangladesh.

Among them include Indian exporters and Bangladeshi importers, students, patients and common people.

A senior exporter pointed out that the restriction was also affecting bilateral trade.

“We used to meet Bangladeshi importers for various purposes but now we have to make do with telephonic conversations or take a detour to visit the country. It is inconvenient and we are losing business,” he said.

The exporters said they have written to the Centre a number of times during the past eight months but there has been no change in the situation.

Malda district magistrate Nitin Singhania said although the state has no role in this regard, the administration contacted the authorities concerned on this issue.

“We do not know why the immigration department (under the Union home ministry) is not allowing passenger movement through Mahadipur. We have sent letters to authorities seeking withdrawal of the curb,” he said.

Customs sources said that because of an omission in the notification withdrawing curbs, the land port cannot be reopened for passenger movement now. “When the notification was issued, Mahadipur was not included by mistake. It can be amended only by the ministry. We sent a detailed report on the issue and hope a fresh notification for Mahadipur is issued soon,” said an official.