Trade between Triura and Bangladesh through ICP resumes

AGARTALA: The International Check Post (ICP) at the Indo-Bangla international border here has resumed operation following temporary withdrawal of the strike by the Agartala Exporters-Importers Association (AEIA), official sources said today. Trade between Tripura and Bangladesh was suspended through the Integrated Check Post (ICP) here due to indefinite strike called by the AEIA since Thursday.

Secretary of AEIA, Habul Biswas said the strike was called to protest imposition of high rate of tariff in 'loading and unloading' by the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) but the strike was temporarily withdrawn as the state Minister for Industries has assured to take up the matter with the Centre. The operation would continue till January 31 and the strike would resume unless the demands were conceded, he said.

The multi-facility world standard ICP was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in presence of Bangladesh Home Minister Mahiuddin Khan Alamgir on November 17.

The check post, built at a cost of Rs 74 crore, is the first of its kind between India and Bangladesh. It has modern terminal building for passage of people from the two countries, well equipped customs and immigration centres, high security equipments, weigh bridges, currency exchange and internet facility, banks etc. However, trade between the two countries has slowed down drastically due to continuous strike by opposition parties in Bangladesh, official sources said.