Indian strike halts Benapole trade

Local importers yesterday feared a short supply of perishable items such as onion, garlic and ginger before Ramadan as trade at Benapole Land Port came to a standstill because of a general strike on the Indian side of the port.

Millions of Indian airport, rail and bank workers went on strike to protest against soaring inflation and the government's "anti-worker" policies.

The strike stranded hundreds of inbound and outgoing trucks, loaded with perishable goods, on both sides of the port.

“A single day halt in trading is not likely to create a huge impact on supply. If the strike continues for a few more days, however, it will create serious problems,” said Sharier Suman, an executive of Hafiz Corporation, a leading Shaymbazar-based import house.

"It is the peak season in terms of importing perishable items into the country through Benapole as only few days are left to Ramadan,” Suman said.

Azizur Rahman, another importer based in Moulvibazar, said retailers tend to hoard goods to create an artificial crisis in times of trade suspension.

The nationwide action called by Indian communist-backed trade unions was also to protest against an average 21 percent wage hike for government officials that the strikers say ignores junior staff, the Press Trust of India reported.

It comes a month after communist parties, bitter critics of what they call the Congress-led government's "anti-labour" policies, withdrew their support after propping up the administration in parliament for four years.

Local clearing and forwarding agents in Bangladesh demanded that the government negotiate with the Indian government to introduce 24-hour nonstop clearance services at the busy land port.