Export thru' Akhaura land port suspended for 3 days

The land port is crucial for Bangladesh as it exports its items to India mainly through this point.

The export items included cement, stones and perishable items, including fish and vegetables.

Exporters said they are incurring a loss of Tk 50 lakh a day for the suspension of trade through the land port.

The export came to halt on Wednesday when Indian customs department officials went to an indefinite strike protesting the abduction of two of their colleagues by the insurgents on April 26.

They are enforcing the strike at eight check-posts in the northeastern region of India.

Some 200 trucks loaded with cement and other export items remained stranded at the land port.

"Many trucks carrying perishable items went back," said an exporter.

The upazila nirbahi officer held talks with the Indian officials several times, but they said they were unable to call off the strike without a decision from the central body in New Delhi.