DHAKA, July 5, 2020 (BSS) – India’s West Bengal state today allowed Bangladeshi lorries cross into its side of the border crossing Benapole borders ending its three months of denial disrupting cross-border trade, the foreign ministry and officials at the land port said.
“Finally, the West Bengal authority opened the border for Bangladeshi lorries this afternoon as we sent an emergency letter to the New Delhi on Friday seeking (India’s) central government intervention,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told BSS.
He said Bangladesh continued to allow Indian trucks inside its territory through the Benapole-Petrapole land port “but the West Bengal authority declined to reciprocate” for the past three months following the coronavirus outbreak, visibly defying their central government decision.
The minister said the West Bengal denial prompted eventually his office on Friday to seek New Delhi intervention that paved ways for the development.
Officials at Benapole Port said the Indian state government debarred entry of Bangladeshi trucks since March 23, while the cross-border trading witnessed a virtual standoff on Wednesday when Bangladesh side also declined Indian trucks entry through the land border as a mark of protest.
They said the cross-border truck movements began at 2 this afternoon.
Momen said his office bypassed the West Bengal as “we contacted with Indian central government to resolve the crisis”.
The cross-border trade between Bangladesh and India remained unhindered in Bangladesh borders with Tripura state through Akhaura point.
Benapole-Petrapole land port accounts for 70 percent of bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India.