Dry fish trading Centre faces closure

Taking the opportunity of a good communication network, several wholesale dry fish markets had been operating there for long. Besides being a trading spot, importers used to import dry fish through Burimari land port and took those to Neamatpur. Those were transported to different districts from Neamatpur. About 10,000 small and big traders were involved in the business.

The National Board of Revenue in February 2002 banned import of dry fish through Burimari due to alleged tax evasion. On March 26 last year, it allowed dry fish import only through Akhaura land port in Brahmanbaria.

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President of Syedpur Dry Fish Traders Association Abul Khair Chandu said import of dry fish through Akhaura or through ship is very much uneconomic for traders Besides, they have to face hassles and extortion at Akhaura.

A BNP lawmaker from Syedpur, Amzad Hossain Sarkar, placed the matter in parliament last year and submitted a written application to the finance ministry for permission to allow dry fish import through Burimari, but to no effcet, the traders said.

Idris Ali, president of local chamber, talking to this correspondent, also demanded resumption of dry fish import through Burimari.