Suspention of coal import: Brick fields in Sylhet badly affected

SYLHET, Jan 14: Burning of bricks in the brick fields in Sylhet region has been badly affected due to suspension of coal import through Tamabil land customs station in Sylhet and Barchhara and Chargaon land customs stations in Sunamganj for the last few weeks.

Coal prices have also gone up in the local markets. It may result in fall in the production and rise in the price of bricks in this region.

About eight lakh tonnes of coal is imported every year. Of this, seven lakh tonnes are imported from India alone. Besides, about 80 per cent of the coal is imported through the Tamabil land customs station.

Officials said the daily demand of coal for burning bricks is about 2000 tonnes. Brick manufacturers use Indian coal imported from Meghalaya state.

About 20,000 tonnes of coal is imported through Tamabil and Sutarkandi borders in Sylhet and Barchhara and Charagaon customs stations, one official informed. Coal import was suspended on September 30 last year after resuming for two months during the season.

Conflict between the BSF and BDR also caused suspension in import through the Barchhara and Chargaon customs stations.

After resolving the problem, it was resumed in late October. But it was suspended again only after three days on November 1, as the BDR and BSF exchanged fire. The BDR and BSF resolved the matter after a week. After this, the border trade remained unhindered for about a month. But the import was suspended from the beginning of December through the Barchhara and Chargaon borders. Recently, import through the Tamabil border had also been suspended. Presently, import is on only through the Sutarkandi customs.

The change in the system of weighing of coal by the Indian exporters had mainly caused the crisis, sources alleged.

The importers did not accept the change and immediately stopped business. Due to suspension of import, the price has gone up. It is now being sold at Tk 2,100 to Tk 2,400 per ton at Barchhara and Chargaon borders against a price of Tk 1,400 to Tk 1,700 the same time last year, sources said.

The price has risen from Tk 1,800 to Tk 2,000 to Tk 2,200 to Tk 2,600 at Tamabil border.

Kalandar Ali, general secretary of the Coal Importers Association, Sylhet, said there should be immediate steps to resume coal import through Tamabil which handles about 80 per cent of the total coal import.

"We have already contacted the Indian High Commission officials and they have assured of taking necessary measures immediately," he said last night.

The stalemate began on September 30, 1999 when the Indian authorities introduced 'weigh bridge' at Dauki customs station, opposite the Tamabil border, without ensuring necessary arrangements here. It caused a lot of troubles for the importers, he alleged.

Some brick manufacturers said, if the situation remains the same for a few weeks more, there will be no alternative but to close down the brick manufacturing units.