DHAKA: The ongoing blockade has virtually crippled the second largest land port of the country, dealing a heavy blow on exporters and importers of both Bangladesh and India.
Despite several government orders and subsequent efforts by law enforcement agencies, Sonamasjid Land Port in Chapainawabganj remains practically inoperative for over a week.
The district is a stronghold of Jamaat-e-Islami, a key ally of the 20-party alliance that has been enforcing the nonstop countrywide blockade since January 6.
Port sources said Jamaat activists coerced port staff, including Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) agents, into abstaining from work and prevented entry of Indian cargo trucks into the Bangladesh side of the border.
As a result, at least 1,300 goods-laden trucks are stranded on both sides of the border at the moment, which prompted the Indian High Commission in Dhaka to request the Bangladesh government to take necessary steps to clear those trucks. Of the total stranded vehicles, 1,000 are on Indian side of the border and 300 are on Bangladesh soil.
“The last time goods were loaded and unloaded here was on January 8 and that too was done amid tight security,” said Nurul Bashir, assistant commissioner of the port Customs, yesterday.
Moreover, there’s a shortage of trucks to carry goods from the border to their destinations across the country. Around 500 vehicles, including a good number of cargo-laden trucks, were torched and vandalised across the country in the last 11 days. Apprehension of such attacks among truck owners and drivers played a key role behind the shortage.
Under these circumstances, the Indian mission in Dhaka sent a letter to the home ministry via the foreign ministry on January 14, expressing concerns that perishable goods would rot inflicting huge losses on Indian exporters, if the trucks remain stranded longer.
It requested the Bangladesh government to take necessary measures to unload the goods and ensure smooth movement of those trucks to their destinations on an emergency basis.
The C&F agents on the Indian side had recently made the same request to the port authorities.
Following the embassy letter, the home ministry asked police, BGB and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) to ensure safe movement of those trucks, sources said.
State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told The Daily Star on Thursday night that he had already given necessary directives and the situation would be normal at the port in a day or two.
While safety is cited as a major issue, the local commander of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) also questioned the willingness of the port staff to end the deadlock.
“We have orders from the higher authorities to make the port operational. But if labourers, truck drivers and C&F agents do not work, we have nothing to do,” Commanding Officer of the 9 BGB Battalion Lt Col Abu Zafor Sheikh Mohammad Bazlul Haque told The Daily Star.
“We are ready to provide all security for smooth operation of the port,” he added.
Nurul Bashir of the port Customs said the government would ensure security but those involved in loading and unloading goods have to resume work first.
After visiting the port yesterday, our Chapainawabganj correspondent reported that perishable goods like ginger and onions in the trucks had already started rotting.
