Trade through Tamabil resumes

9 December 2006, 18:00 PM

Border trade through Tamabil land customs station resumed yesterday after four days' suspension due to a row between Indian Border Security Force and their exporters, officials said.

The customs department incurred a loss of around Tk 1.25 crore due to suspension of imports including coal, they said.

The suspension created a crisis of coal for brick kilns in the region.

For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.

The trouble erupted as Indian BSF became tough and started thorough checking of coal loaded trucks last week to stop alleged stealing in weight. As this caused delay at the customs station, importers and exporters of both the countries protested, saying they were harassed in the name of checking.

As BSF did not pay heed to the protests, exporters on Tuesday stopped sending coal in trucks.

On an average, 300 to 400 loaded trucks cross the border every day.

Kolondar Ali, former general secretary of Bangladesh Coal Importers Association said yesterday that the matter was resolved Friday at a meeting of BSF and Indian exporters, held in Shillong, Meghlaya.