AGARTALA, June 26 (TIWN): The ‘haat’ or market along the Kamalasagar-Tarapur border at Tripura Sepahijala District passed off peacefully on the third day. Just after the serious controversy erupted on its second day a high level meeting was held chaired by ADM Sepahijala D. K. Chakma who is also the Chairman of the border haat committee, taking a stock of the situation asked the concerned security forces and the custom authorities for their cooperation towards the local in order to run the haat peacefully with no further disturbances. However under the strict vigilance of the ADM D. K. Chakma, DM and other officials engaged to the committee on the third day of the haat along the border passed off peacefully with no further disturbances. ADM D. K. Chakma had successfully carried the haat along the bordering area on June 25. Talking to TIWN in this regard on Friday D. K. Chakma who is a chairman of the border haat committee said, “No further disturbances occurred on the third day of the haat and the BSFs along with the Custom authorities also carried on their duty very well.”Adding to that Chakma said, “On the third day a total of 12 vendors from the Indian side whereas a total of 14 vendors from Bangladesh side participated at the haat.”However,the monsoonal rain had restricted many of the vendors and the locals to participate at the haat, said Chakma.

He said that there are also several other reasons like most of the farmers are engaged in the paddy field due to which most of the local vendors could not come to the haat and sell their goods and products.

“But those drawbacks are temporary as only because it was a monsoonal rain and a time to get engaged to the paddy fields due to which the local farmers could not participate at the haat,” ADM said. “It has also been observed on the third day that the people from outside are also much interested to come to the haat and buy the foreign products,” he said.

Sidelining another issue related to the border haat at Kamalasagar ADM D. K. Chakma said, “Earlier we allowed only 100 guests at the haat but as it has been observed that many more from outside are interested to participate at the haat for buying products, therefore with the consent of the committee it has been decided that in future we would eye to extend the figure from 100.”

He also said, “The local vendors would be charged from next week with Rs. 100 taka in Bangladesh currency and Rs. 75 in Indian currency.” Adding to that ADM said, “Earlier since after the haat was opened the vendors were not charged, but from now onwards they would be charged because at least we need to take up some expenditure in maintain the haat in a proper way like cleaning the toilets and the haat.”

However despite all odds the haat along the Kamalasagar-Tarapur bordering area on June 25 passed off peacefully. It is worthy to mention here that earlier after some disturbances occurred at the haat during the second day of the trade, serious allegations were raised against the concerned authorities and a section of security forces of the BSF. The locals alleged that acting on behest of the concerned smugglers the BSFs and the custom authorities carried on their unruly behaviour towards the vendors.

The incident occurred on the second day of the haat at Kamalsagar had triggered a panic among the locals and the Indian traders. It is also to be mentioned here that during the third day of the haat most of those pained vendors who were allegedly harassed by the BSFs and the custom authorities had not participated. However, after the incident took place, immediately a high level meeting was called by the ADM who is also the chairman of the committee. Later everything was brought under control under the vigilance of the ADM D K Chakma.

The ‘border haats’ are allowed to sell local agricultural and horticultural products, spices, minor forest produce (excluding timber), fresh and dry fish, dairy and poultry products, cottage industry items, wooden furniture, handloom and handicraft items. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Border Haats and Border Trade along the India-Bangladesh border was signed on October 23, 2010. The MOU enables traders in border communities of both India and Bangladesh to trade in local produce.