Dispute halts hard rock import through Hili port
Import of hard rock through Hili land port from India remained suspended since September 23 due to a dispute between two groups of Indian clearing and forwarding agents over getting priority in sending goods to Bangladesh.
Senior exporters and local administration of Balurghat under India's West Bengal had been trying to settle the issue through discussion in the last eight days, said Harun Ur Rashid, president of the importers group in Hili port.
“All their efforts were in vain. Another meeting will be held tomorrow [Monday].” Bangladeshi businesses have also requested their Indian counterpart through a letter to solve the problem as early as possible, Rashid said.
Besides other goods, around 5,000 tonnes of hard rock are imported through the port to Bangladesh every day and the price of each tonne of rock hovers around Tk 3,300, he said.
“Many hard rock users of Rooppur in Pabna and Faridpur districts have already started cancelling orders after the arrival of half of the import orders.”
The government has lost Tk 1.5 crore in revenue so far thanks to the import suspension, Rashid said.
However, import of other goods through the port remained normal, said Sohrab Hossain, public relations officer of the Hili port.
Comments