Impact of Bangladesh movement: Business of three countries including Nepal has been stopped for 10 days

Phulbari-Banglabandh, the trilateral trade route of Nepal, India and Bhutan, has been closed for the past 10 days. This international border, which is always buzzing, has become deserted due to the raging movement in Bangladesh. Subas Pandey, the head of Nepal Transport and Warehouse Management Company Limited, the organization that facilitates Nepal-Bangladesh trade, said that the checkpoint was blocked due to the protest.

"Some goods coming from Bangladesh are now stopped at the border," he said, "Some containers sent for export are also stopped in the dry port area of ​​Phulbari border. India and Bhutan have been exporting stones through this channel.'

According to him, there is no possibility that business will be resumed from here until the agitation ends. According to Parvahan, half a dozen Nepali products such as khudo, dal, herbs, grains, chutto etc. are exported to Bangladesh. More than 20 items such as batteries, medicines, soybeans, potatoes, jute etc. are imported from there.

In the current financial year, more than 29 thousand 28 million goods have been exported from Nepal to Bangladesh, while goods worth 3.74 billion rupees have been imported into Nepal.

According to Mitralal Sangraula, a local importer, when the import/export with Bangladesh is stopped, the customs agents as well as the shipping workers are also suffering the direct impact. Mechi Customs chief Ram Prasad Regmi said that Nepal-Bangladesh trade has stopped due to the agitation. "However, it has not affected the revenue collection of Mechi Customs," he said, "There is no trade with Bangladesh, but it has not affected the overall revenue collection." Banglabandh trade route can be found after covering a distance of about 54 km from Kakdbhita to Wagdogra-Ghoshpokhar-Phoulbari. After the construction of the Asian Highway, this route has been shortened by 16 km. By covering a distance of 38 km from the eastern border, the Bangladesh border can be reached.

According to customs agent Dilip Timsina, the movement has caused further damage to the declining Nepal-Bangladesh trade. "Nepali's trade with Bangladesh is falling every year," he said, "due to the agitation, the possibility of a further decline in trade has also increased."