Agartala: The Exporter and Importer Association of Kailashahar Sub-division under the Unakoti District of Tripura has written a letter to Tripura Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, urging immediate action to resolve issues hindering international trade through the Manu Land Customs Station (LCS) in the sub-division on December 12.
Presently, there are eight (8) notified Land Custom Stations (LCS), namely, Agartala, Srimantpur, Muhurighat, Khowaighat, Dhalaighat, Manughat, Old Raghnabazar and Sabroom.
In the letter, the association highlighted a recent incident involving ISKCON member Chinmay Krishna Das in Bangladesh that led to local protests in Kailashahar. Protesters obstructed operations at the Manu LCS by erecting bamboo barricades.
“The local administration has not taken any steps to resume international trade through the Manu LCS since November 27. As a result, trade at this port remains suspended. Neither the Central nor the State Government has officially ordered the closure of this port, which makes the ongoing disruption legally questionable. For example, in Agartala’s Akhaura LCS, when local people similarly caused obstructions, the administration promptly removed all hindrances, and trade resumed without delay. However, trade at the Kailashahar border remains at a standstill,” the letter stated.
The association further emphasized that over a hundred families, including port labourers, vehicle workers, loaders and unloaders, depend on border trade for their livelihood.
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“The prolonged closure of trade has pushed these families into starvation. Additionally, the government is losing approximately Rs 25 lakh due to the disruption of international trade. In light of these circumstances, we humbly request that immediate steps be taken to remove all obstructions at the Kailashahar port, ensuring uniformity in the treatment of all trade ports across the state and the country,” the letter concluded.
Though the trade is on halt, the trade and public movement from Agartala-Akhaura Integrated Check Post, perhaps the largest in the state, is still operational.
Speaking with Business North East (BNE), the Manager of the Land Port Authority of India, Debasish Nandi, said that though there are protests, the movement of trade and passengers is still there. However, due to some local protests in Manughat, the protestors have closed the LCS.
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