AGARTALA, August 2 (TIWN): Foodgrains from Bangladesh didn’t arrive at the Akhaura International Check Post (ICP) till Saturday. The consignment is likely to arrive at the checkpost by August 08, official sources said.A highly placed source inside the Department of Food and Civil Supplies said that 5,000 MT foodgrains are still waiting on a ship at Port Mongla, close to Ashuganj port. The consignment would take an additional 24 hours to arrive at Ashuganj port, the source said adding that the ship couldn’t be docked at Ashuganj due to lack of space as regular goods transportation continued.

The ship carrying foodgrains from Kakinada of Andhra Pradesh though it arrived by July 27 on site.

A separate source inside the Integrated Check Post (ICP) said later this afternoon that Indo-Bangla trade resumed at the check post after a lull of four days since the holy Eid. Trade continued in rather slow pace for the day, the source said.

The state usually exports dry fish, paper boards, scrap iron, banana, citrus fruits like lemon, orange and seasonal fruits like jackfruit, mangoes, spices etc. The import bulk from Bangladesh to the Indian territory through Tripura-Bangla frontiers mainly include small fish, Hilsa fish, stone chips, cement, food products, non-alcoholic beverages, cotton, aluminum profiles etc.

Tripura suffered an export deficit of Rs. 1.14 crore compared to the previous year in 2012-2013.

The average monthly requirement of foodgrains in the state is reported to be 30,000 MT now. With 10,000 MT transported through Bangladesh, the state government is learnt to be attempting at building a three months' buffer food stock by procuring additional foodgrains through rail and roadways before the mega block starts in October this year.

While the first consignment of 5,000 MT foodgrains for Tripura that travelled from Vishakhapatnam of Andhra Pradesh to Ashuganj port in Bangladesh through Diamond Harbour in West Bengal is slated to arrive at Ashuganj port on July 27, a similar second consignment is expected to start from the Andhra coast soon.