Bangladesh withdraws import restrictions on 9 items

The Bangladesh government has withdrawn its restrictions on importing nine items from India through two land ports in Tripura, in a boost to traders of the region, officials said on Saturday(December 14).

Bangladesh had exported various items amounting to ₹522.42 crores in 2018-19 while imports of goods through seven land ports in Tripura to the neighbouring country were around ₹14.66 crore, they said.

“The trade imbalance is due to restrictions imposed by Dhaka on various items. Bangladesh has withdrawn its restrictions on importing nine items through Akhaura land port and Srimantapur land custom station,” state industries and commerce departments additional director Swapna Debnath said.

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The nine items on which the restriction was removed from December 1 included cashew nut, paper, sugar, generator, broken glass, chocolate, baby wipes, confectionary and
bitumen, she said. Currently, five other land customs stations- Muhurighat, Khowaighat, Dhalaighat, Manughat and Puran Raghna are operational along Indo-Bangla border in Tripura.

The official said that following efforts by Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, Bangladesh has removed restrictions on 16 items in two phases. Despite demand by the state government to withdraw restriction on tea export through land ports in Tripura, the neighbouring country has not relaxed it yet.

“Tripura will be benefited if trade restriction on tea export to Bangladesh through the land ports in the state is lifted”, said Santosh Saha, Chairman of Tripura Tea Development Corporation Ltd (TTDDC). Steps have been taken to make Sabroom LCS operational by April next year, the official said.