Agartala-Dhaka bus service suspended for indefinite period

AGARTALA: The Agartala-Dhaka bus service was suspended for indefinite period and Indo-Bangla trade through the Tripura border came to a grinding halt following violence and strike in neighbouring Bangladesh, official sources said.

Tripura Road Transport Corporation (TRTC) officials said the Dhaka-Agartala bus did not ply since Sunday last following strike and violence in Bangladesh.

Managing Director of TRTC Rabindra Reang said in view of the current political turmoil in the neighbouring country, plying of the Moitree service from Agartala and Shyamali service from Dhaka became uncertain.

Trade between Tripura and Bangladesh also came to a halt through the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Akhaura here, officials said.

Agartala Exporters-Importers Association (AEIA) general secretary Habul Biswas said the strike has resulted in trucks being stranded on both sides of the international border, leading to massive loss of exporters and importers.

"At least 200 trucks from Bangladesh enter India through this check post and daily transaction for both sides is at least Rs 20 lakh, as this land customs station is the second most important one after Benapole in West Bengal," Biswas said.