Amid various conspiracies against the country over the arrest of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das, the sincerity of the India-Bangladesh governments means that trade and passport holders' movement between the two countries through the Benapole land port remains normal.
Business leaders say that if trade services or visas are stopped, both countries will suffer. Therefore, the government must be vigilant so that isolated incidents of instigators do not create differences in the trade and friendly relations between the two countries. Meanwhile, security has been strengthened at the Benapole-Petrapole border to avoid unpleasant incidents.
It is known that 80 percent of the trade or passport holders' movement between India and Bangladesh via the country's land route uses Benapole and India's Petrapole ports. The Indian government earns about 150 crore Rupee in visa fees from about 23 lakh passport holders annually. And India exports goods worth 14 billion US dollars to this country. Thousands of Indian students are studying in this country at low cost.
In July-August, the students and people's movement against discrimination disrupted normal import-export trade and passport holders' travel for two months. Later, when the interim government gradually started returning to the country after taking office, the anti-nationals started various conspiracies to ruin this relationship by making provocative statements. Recently, ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested for sedition. Since then, the anti-nationals have raised their heads again on the pretext of demanding his release. Under their instigation, extremist organizations in West Bengal, India are pressuring the Indian government to stop visas for Bangladeshis, medical services and import-export trade between the two countries. However, as India-Bangladesh relations are still intact, trade and travel between the two countries are normal.
Indian truck driver Animesh, who brought imported goods to Benapole port, said on Monday morning that some organizations are holding meetings and rallies at the Petrapole border demanding the release of Chinmoy Krishna Das. Many are speaking out to stop trade and travel of passport holders. However, no instructions have been given by the Indian government to stop trade or travel. As a result, there has been no obstacle in the transportation of their goods.
On the way back after unloading Bangladeshi export goods at Petrapole port, truck driver Muslim said that he returned after unloading the goods as usual as there is no ban on export trade by the Petrapole port authority.
Abdul Mujit, a passport holder who returned to India, said on Monday morning that there are some extremist organizations in West Bengal, India, and they are creating panic among people by making provocative statements. But no one on behalf of the Indian government is creating obstacles to travel. However, due to panic, many Bangladeshis are returning home after hearing the news of the check post closure. Security has been increased at the border to avoid untoward incidents.
Azim Uddin Gazi, secretary of the Benapole Transport Owners Association, said that if trade or visas are closed, both countries will suffer because a large amount of goods are exported from Bangladesh to India. In addition, there are thousands of Indians who are in Bangladesh to study at low cost.
Kazi Ratan, Assistant Attendant of the Benapole land port, said that 120 trucks of various types of goods have been imported from India and 76 trucks of goods have been exported till 2 pm on Monday. More than 4,000 passport holders have traveled between the two countries. Trade and travel are normal so far, he said.
Imtiaz Ahmed, officer-in-charge (OC) of the Benapole immigration check post, said that the Petrapole immigration authorities in India have not given any instructions to stop the travel of passport holders. As a result, passenger movement between the two countries is normal.
It is worth noting that BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal State Legislative Assembly, Shuvendu Adhikari, had threatened on Wednesday that he would stop import-export, visa and medical services for Bangladeshis with India through Benapole Port from this morning if Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested in a sedition case in the country, was not released.
