AGARTALA, January 29 (TIWN): The first ever border trade between Tripura (India) and Bangladesh at Srinagar border haat under South district comes as boon for land-locked Tripura with the haat securing a good response from both the sides. The trade has been gradually picking up its trade with Tripura aims to take a daily transaction of Rs. 10 lakh, said Debashish Basu DM & Collector (South).

Talking to TIWN DM & Collector (South) Debasish Basu said that the second business day of Srinagar border haat on Tuesday has received a very good response from both the sides of Tripura and Bangladesh with a gradually increasing participation of the traders at the haat. “The trade between Tripura (India) and Bangladesh will of course gear up within 0ne or two months”, Basu told to TIWN.

Asked about any untoward incidents occurred yet at the border haat, Debasish Basu said that the customs people and the concerned security forces has been keeping a close vigil regularly at the border area and since the haat opened for the traders no untoward incident has occurred yet, Basu told to TIWN.

However later asked about if there is any chance of smuggling, Basu told to TIWN that the concerned administration along with the customs officials have been conducting strict check up to the local traders and their goods, whereas from the Bangladesh counterpart the BGB has also been conducting their regular check up. Therefore there is no chance of smuggling like activities at the border haat, said Basu.

Asked about the trade volume during the second business day at the border haat, Basu said that the trade volume has been gradually increasing at the haat. On Tuesday during the second business day from the Indian part the volumes rested at Rs. 2.75 lakh, while from the Bangladesh’s part the volume of the trade rested at Rs. 1.60 lakh. However, during the second business day Bangladeshi vendors opened 20 stalls while Indian venders set up 17 stalls at the Srinagar border haat.

The border haat at Srinagar is the third of its kind between India and Bangladesh. Two haats were earlier set up, the first one at Kalaichar in Meghalaya and Baliamari in Bangladesh and the Dalora-Balat.