Trade resumes thru’ Hili land port after Eid holidays

Business Report :

Export-import activities through Hili land port in Dinajpur resumed on Sunday morning, marking the end of an eight-day suspension of trade due to the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.

The port, one of the busiest land ports between Bangladesh and India, had remained closed for bilateral trade from March 29 to April 5, in observance of the major Muslim festival celebrated across the country.

Professor Shahinur Islam, General Secretary of the Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) Agents’ Association at Hili land port, confirmed the resumption of cross-border trade. “After the Eid break, the port has reopened for export-import activities from Sunday.

Although goods movement was suspended, the travel of individuals with valid passports and documents through the immigration section continued uninterrupted during the holiday period,” he said.

According to port authorities, the trade suspension was mutually agreed upon by stakeholders from both India and Bangladesh in consideration of Eid celebrations. However, preparations for the resumption had been underway since Saturday evening, with officials, customs personnel, and freight agents readying the facilities for the influx of trade vehicles.

Shafiul Alam, Revenue Officer of Hili land port, informed that trucks laden with goods from India began entering the Bangladeshi side of the port from around 11:00 AM on Sunday. “We’ve started receiving shipments smoothly, and the customs and port operations are functioning normally again,” he said.

One of the significant commodities being imported through Hili and other land ports during this period is onion – a staple in Bangladeshi kitchens and a highly sensitive item in terms of price fluctuation. Importers have resumed onion shipments from India following the holiday pause, aiming to stabilize local markets and prevent any post-Eid supply shortage.

Trade activities between Bangladesh and India through land ports, including Hili, Benapole, and Bhomra, play a critical role in the economic exchange between the two neighboring countries. Hili land port in particular handles a large portion of agricultural products, industrial raw materials, and consumer goods.

Onions, garlic, rice, wheat, fruits, spices, and construction materials are among the high-volume items regularly traded through this route.

Exporters from Bangladesh are also dispatching products such as jute goods, frozen food, and plastic items to Indian markets, though the trade balance remains tilted in favor of India due to higher import volume.