No coal import thru' Tamabil border for 9 days
Coal import through Tamabil border could not be resumed as of yesterday while the stalemate has continued for nine days, much to the worry of the importers and brick manufacturers of the region.
The suspension of coal import is causing the government a loss of at least Tk 20 lakh in revenue every day, customs officials said.
The traders are in great worry at the stalemate in coal import at the ending stage of their season. As many as 150 Indian coal loaded trucks have remained stranded on the other side of Tamabil border for the last nine days, importers said. About 1,500 labourers engaged in overloading and loading of the item at the border have also remained jobless.
Office bearers of Coal Importers Group in Sylhet alleged that the Indian traders suspended sending coal to Bangladesh through Tamabi-Dauki borders due to unwanted interference by the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR).
They said the BDR men often harass the Indian truck drivers and their helpers in the name of quizzing for collecting information although the Indian truckers are allowed to unload the imported coal on stockyard inside the Bangladesh territory through customs checking and other formalities.
The Indian sources alleged 'excesses' in the name of security checking by Bangladesh border guards.
BDR sources told the Daily Star that they are noting down information about the Indian truckers for security reasons.
Suspension of coal unloading inside Bangladesh territory at this ending part of the season is unwanted, president of Coal Importers Group, Sylhet, Haji Dilwar Hossain, also a director of Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said yesterday.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments