AGARTALA, August 28: A high level delegation of export-import traders operating in the Tripura-Bangla border along Akhaura international check post today met Assistant Commissioner (Customs) K Negi and sought his intervention to withdraw port restrictions in the ICP.The traders’ association leader said that export to Bangladesh was very rare through the Akhaura check post due to high export duties. More liberal outlook would be needed to attain trade balance along the international check post, he said.

Biswas further said today that 50-60 truckloads of regular cargo were coming from Bangladesh through the Akhaura ICP these days beside the special foodgrain carriers carrying rice loads from ships harboured at Ashuganj port in Bangladesh to Tripura as a move to build buffer food stock ahead of the forthcoming Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) mega block in Lumding-Silchar-Badarpur-Agartala segment starting October 01 this year.

“Usually, 150 truckloads of cargo arrive in the state through the international check post. But they are coming pretty less for the past two weeks or so due to heavy monsoon. We aren’t having any Hilsa fishes imported through the border as per standing decision of the Bangladesh government since July, 2012 as well”, Biswas said.

The daily import value, estimated to be around Rs. 1.25 crore in normal conditions, have now come down to Rs. 50-60 lakhs everyday.