Dooars unrest hits Bhutan-Bangla trade through India

SILIGURI: Political unrest in Dooars, which is close to the Indo-Bhutan border, has cast a shadow over the Bhutan-Bangladesh trade through India. A good number of Indian indirect beneficiaries of the trade has already become victim of the situation.

Though the indefinite bandh called by the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP) had been officially withdrawn two days ago, Dooars is still far away from normalcy. Negligible movement of vehicles along NH31C, through Dooars, is a major indicator of that.

Sporadic violence, local bandhs, group clashes are still on, keeping commercial activities at a low key.

Being land-locked, Bhutan maintains its exports and imports with its third largest trade partner Bangladesh, mainly through India. Out of $0.6 billion exports, a major portion comes from power exports to India. If that is left aside, out of its 0.48 billion of imports, around 7% comes from Bangladesh.

The country, in return, exports goods worth $21 million to Bhutan. Out of eight trade points in Bangladesh and six trade points used by Bangladesh and Bhutan respectively, four of each country are on opposite sides of Indo-Bangla border in Dooars. "This is in trouble," said P. Bhutia, an exporter from Bhutan.

According to Bhutan bank officials, Bhutan-Bangladesh exim may touch rock bottom if the trouble continues for long. Though, officially, operated by traders in Bangladesh and Bhutan, in practice, a lion���s share of this trade is handled by Indian operatives in Dooars.

"We have become a victim of the situation. Especially, those who operate through Jaigaon, the largest trade point of Bhutan," said N. K. Pradhan, a transporter from Jaigaon.

While talking to ET on this, ABAVP leader R Lakra said: "It is unfortunate that people are suffering even after withdrawal of the bandh. Now we cannot be held responsible."