CHAPTER_- V

*** CONSTR.AINTS:

INFR_ASTR_UCTUR_E, SECUR_ITY AND POLITICS **

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security and Politics

In the previous chapters we discussed about the rationale for greater

cooperation in the region. By developing well coordinated transport network,

both India and Bangladesh along with Bhutan and Nepal will be benefited.

This will have multiplying effect on the economy and society of the region.

For example, investment both domestic and foreign will increase which will

increase the availability of more employment in the region. Internal

disturbances in the region will be minimized in the long run. In sum it will be

a win-win situation for all. However, irrespective of these potential benefits,

there are several roadblocks in the way. A number of factors hinder the

smooth flow of traffic between India's North East and Bangladesh. These can

be broadly divided into two major categories. One is at the ground level that

is at the border crossing point and another is at the policy level. In this

chapter these issues are discussed in two sections. The first section deals with

lack of adequate infrastructure at the Land Custom Stations (LCS) in India's

North East and Bangladesh. This section has been written on the basis of data

and information collected by the author's personal visit to Bangladesh and

India's North East especially the LCSs. Some facts are also collected from the

internal documents of Bangladesh Entrepreneur Institute (BEl). The second

section discuss about the political and security concerns for developing well

coordinated transport and related infrastructure in the region. The data tables

for this chapter have been provided at the end of the chapters.

5.1 Infrastructure at the Land Customs Station

One of the prominent factors is the infrastructural facilities available at the

Land Custom Station (LCS). Infrastructure here refers to both physical and

institutional infrastructure. Unless this infrastructural bottleneckness have

Constraints: I rifrastructure, Security aruf PoCitics

been resolved it is very difficult to have closer economic relations between

India and Bangladesh in general and North East India and Bangladesh in

particular. The present chapter is an attempt to identify the infrastructural

bottleneckness at the LCS where actual trade is undertaken at the border. For

this purpose an assessment of the infrastructural facilities have been

undertaken for most of the LCS in the India's North East bordering

Bangladesh. The facts and figures have been collected by author's personal

visit as well as literature available in this area. The trade data has been

collected from the Commissioner of Customs, Shillong. The LCS which are

taken into considerations are:· Srimantapur- Bibirbazar; Agartala- Akhaura;

Ranghnabazar- Juri/Batuli ; Sutarkandi - Seola; Karimganj - Zokiganj; Dawki

- Tamabil; Bholaganja - Chatak; Borsora - Borsora; Gasuapara -

Gobrakora/Koraitoli; Dalu Nakugaon and Mahendraganj

Dhanua/Kamalpur.

5.1.1 Srimantapur- Bibirbazar

Srimantapur falls under Sonamura Subdivision of West Tripura district of

Tripura, India. It is located at a distance of 4 km from the Sonamura town and

63 km from Agartala, the state capital. The approaching road from Agartala to

this LCS is in good condition and comprised of NH 44 up to Bishramganj.

Road from Bishramganj to the LCS is in good condition. The widening of the

NH 44 is underway. The road connecting the LCS and the 'no mans' land

been widen enough to handle the traffic. Other infrastructural facilities are

not in good condition.

' Information for these LCSs was collected by author's personal visit and the documents of BEL Some of the LCSs could not be visited due to bad accessibility coupled with disturbances in the region during the author' visit to the region.

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security andPo[itics

Figure 5.1 Office of Srimantpur Land Custom Station

The phone line at the LCS is having erratic problems. The building of

the LCS is not good condition and having tin roof from which there are

leakages. This LCS is having no warehouse facility and no weighbridge as

well. When enquired, the Superintendent of the LCS told that the work on

weighbridge is on and it will be in place in a month. He further told that there

is a plan for drastic modernization of the LCS over a land area of

approximately17 acres. If this planned structure comes into being

Srimantapur may be the best LCS in the India's North East. The Deputy

Commissioner of Customs in-charge of this LCS told that there is much

potential in this LCS in comparison to the Agartala LCS. For this the land

acquisitions have almost finished and the work on this may be started in near

fu ture. Map 5.1 presents a graphical sketch of the Srimantapur LCS.

Constraints: Infrastrncture, Security arufCl'oCitics

Map 5.1

Srimantapur Land Custom Station

To Agartala 60kms

1 BSF l Guard

a-Mans Land To Sonamora Town (I Kms) I Kms to LCS

N

LCS& Weigh Bridge & Immigration Planned Building

Map not to scale

Table 5.1 and 5.2 presents the commodity wise export and imports

undertaken at the Srimantapur LCS in last 3 financial years. Ginger is the

product which is being consistently exported through Srimantapur LCS in the

last three years. Apart from that sanitary ware is one of the principal products

exported through this LCS. New products have. started making their way to

Bangladesh through this LCS which can be seen from the table 5.1. The total

exports through LCS have increased from Rs. 3930221 in 2004-05 to Rs.

5688435 in 2006-07. The prominent products among the new one are raw

material and skin.

Bibirbazar is the corresponding LCS in Bangladesh. It is located in

Kotwali Upazilla of Camilla district. It has a very bad approaching road and

no parking facilities are available. Bibirbazar is about 8 km from the Camilla

town and 104 km from Dhaka. Road condition up to Kalatabazar which is one

and half km short of the LCS is manageable (BEl document). But the last

stretch of the road to LCS and no mans land is horrible. As can be seen from

the Indian side, the road on the Bangladesh side is not surfaced and look like

a common country road which becomes a pool of mud in rainy season.

Constraints: Irifrastructure, Security aruf Po[itics

Further there is no space for unloading. The goods are unloaded on the road

itself. The road building work has been started and will be completed soon as

heard from the people sitting in the Srimantapur LCS. Phone facility is not

available in this LCS. There is a tubwell which fulfils the water need. There

are no weighbridge and warehouse. However for expansion plan the LCS has

60 acres of land for future use. According to the Chittagong Chamber of

Commerce and Industry (CCCI) study, the importance of Bibirbazar LCS is

enormous. This is based on the fact that Camilla Export Processing Zone

(EPZ) if developed properly taking into account the market prospects of

Tripura and adjoining landlocked states, can be a good interface for import­

export business for both the sides of the border. Agro based products can be

exported to Bangladesh as raw material for the EPZ (Chowdhury, 2004). The

graphical representation of the Bibirbazar LCS can be seen from Map 5.2.

Map5.2 Bibirbazar Land Custom Station

Immigration Office

5.1.2 Agartala- Akhaura

Otlice of the Sub-inspector

Map Not to Scale

Agartala LCS is located at about 2 km from the Agartala town which is the

state capital of Tripura. It is just 2.5 km from the NH 44 which connects this

Constraints: Injrastrncture, Security anaPofitics

town to Guwahati. The connecting road is in good condition as far as current

traffic is concerned. This has to be widened to cater future traffic. However

road at the border crossing (no man's land) seems to be narrow where the

transhipment is conducted in this point. The picture above shows the

transhipment of goods at the no man's land. The office of the Customs and

immigration is in a very bad condition. Although a new building work is

finished it has not been transferred to the competent authority. Due to this the

staffs of customs and immigration are suffering much.

Figure 5.2 - Akhaura Land Custom Station

There is a weigh bridge but at a distance about 150 metres from the

road and the connecting way is not in good condition. State Bank of India has

opened one foreign exchange counter at the LCS to facilitate trade. All other

facilities like electricity, water and telephone are available. There is regular

bus service from Dhaka to Agartala although not many people are travelling

on this bus in contrast to the Kolkata-Dhaka bus services where the supply is

much less than the demand. Table 5.3 and 5.4 shows the volume of India's

export and import at the Agartala LCS respectively.

Co11 ·aints: Infrastructure, Security andPofitics

MapS. Agartala Land Cw 1m Station

------------------------------~

No-Mans Land To AgartalaTown (I Kms)

BSF j I LCS &

I New LCS Guard Immigration Building

(not in

[ eigh Bridge II Warehouse operation)

Map not to scale

The corresponding LCS in Banglad his Akhaura. It is located in south

east side of Brahmanbaria district of E 1gladesh. The LCS is located at

distance of 26 km from Brahmanbaria < :l 7 km from the Akhaura town.

There are two approach roads to the LC~ )ne from Dharkhar and the other

from Dhaka-Sylhet highway. Both nee widening and straightening and

culverts need to be improved. Road f m Akhura Rail Station and LCS

checkpoint is single-laned and in bad c< :lition. It is very difficult for two

trucks to cross each other. Agartala-Dha1 bus service is also not going very

well due to bad condition of the road. M; 5.4 presents graphical map of the

Akhaura LCS.

From Akhaura

MapS Akhaura Land Cu om Station

II Residence

Superintenc J Custom House

StatT Quarters

No Man·s L and

Mao Not to Scale

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security aruf Po{itics

Currently the bus takes about 5 hours from Dhaka to Agartala which

can be reduced to 3 hours if the roads are widened. Many traders have stated

the 17 kilometers stretch of road from Dharkhar to Akhaura Rail Station as an

impediment to increased exports through this LCS. This is a more or less

single lane road and needs to be widened and repaired. The 5 kilometer

stretch from the railway station to the LCS is also narrow and in rather poor

condition. Some earlier studies find that all trucks of a single consignment are

physically examined together; the BEl study found that the C&F agents often

overcome this problem even if all trucks are unable to arrive at the same time.

Clearly, the discretion leaves room for corruption by officers. Although

electricity and water facilities are there, no landline phone facilities are there.

There is no banking facility available at the LCS. The nearest bank is at

Akhaura railway station where VAT and other taxes can be paid. A bank

branch is necessary at the LCS. The issue of getting food samples tested has

been mitigated to some extend due to setting up of a food testing laboratory

in Guwahati. Previously, a Health Certificate had to be collected from Kolkata

after sending samples from each consignment (BEl documents).

5.1.3 Ranghnabazar- Juri/Batuli

Ranghnabazar is located near Dharmanagar city of Tripura. The LCS is at a

distance of about 4 km from the Dharmanagar town. But the LCS is located at

distance of 2.5 km from the no man's land. The LCS is connected with NH 44.

However the approach road to the export point is in very bad shape. New

wide road is currently being constructed. An integrated trade complex is also

being built. Trade takes place through a head loads over a bamboo bridge

over the Ranghnachera canal. A new bridge is in the pipeline but due to the

objection by the BDR the work has been stopped (BEl document).

The LCS has an office which operates from a very small temporary

shed at the border. Main LCS has also a small office with tin roof. Electricity is

not available at check post, but at the LCS electricity service is available.

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security and Pofitics

Phone facility is not available at the LCS or the nearby areas. There is no

warehouse, parking and weighbridge at the LCS. The nearest bank for this

LCS is at Dharamgarh town. The tables 5.5 and 5.6 show India's export and

import data of last 3 years through Ranghnabazar LCS.

Batuli/Juri

The corresponding LCS on the Bangladesh side is Juri-Batuli. Batuli LCS is

under the Moulovibazar district. It is located on the east side of the

Moulovibazar district. Although Batuli is declared a LCS, however, there is no

permanent office for Customs. Customs activities including assessment are

accomplished at Juri, which is 23 km from Batuli checkpoint.

Batuli LCS is at a distance of 68 km from the Moulovibazar district

town from where Sylhet is at about 58 km. The present road condition is bad.

The repairing work is underway. From Moulovibazar, Batuli is to reach via

Kulaura, Juri and Fultala. The road between Juri to Fultala is about 17 km.

and the road condition is bad. At some stretches it is dilapidated, marked

with potholes and ditches, particularly a stretches of 2 km at the middle of

this road is in very deplorable condition. A portion of about 500 meter of this

2 km stretch is very low and gets submerged during rainy season. From

Fultala to Batuli check post, the distance is about 6 km. The first 3 km of the

road is paved but single. The finall km of the road leading to the check post

is of mud. As a result, truck even with 3 ton load can't ply on this road and

get bogged down in the mud in case of rain. Due to this bad road condition,

truckers or lorry drivers do not want to visit this LCS even with an offer of

premium fare. There are also two more routes to reach Batuli from Sylhet via

Juri. Both of these are under construction.

The second one is through Bianibazar, Baralekha and Juri. The

complete distance from Sylhet to Juri is about 80 km. The road from Sylhet to

Bianibazar (50 km.) already exists and is in good motorable condition. The

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security ana PoCitics

road from Bianibazar to Baralekha (14 km), is doubled and in very good

shape. However the road from Baralekha to Juri is under development.

The third route from Sylhet to Juri is the shortest one. The road is via

Fenchuganj and Kulaura. The road is being developed at some stretches and

newly constructed at some places. A bridge on the road at Fenchuganj over

the river Kushiara is being constructed. Altogether the distance from Sylhet to

Juri by this road would be about 60 km. If this route is completed, the distance

from Sylhet to Batuli LCS would be reduced by about 50 km. So the

development of this route should be expedited to facilitate harnessing the

export potential of Batuli LCS (BEl document).

There is absolutely no infrastructure except for two temporary bamboo

sheds. There is no electricity, land phone, warehouse, water, customs office

except for a tin shed. Further, there is no residence for staff. However, mobile

phone facility is available. There is no bank!ng facility even for domestic

purposes. The nearest banking facility available for paying VAT, duties, and

travel tax is at Kulaura, which is about 36 km from the checkpoint. In other

words, given the total lack of facilities, it may be valid to ask why anyone

from the Bangladesh side should be interested to trade through this LCS. It is

essential therefore to build some infrastructure at Batuli.

5.1.4 Sutarkandi- Seola

Sutarkandi is in Karimganj district of Assam. It is at a distance of 14 km. from

Karimganj town. The LCS is connected with NH 151 from Karimganj from

where NH 44 connects to other towns of the North East India. LCS is not

connected with railway but there is potential for rail linking of the LCS. The

road condition from Karimganj to the LCS is very good and wide. The LCS

has got good infrastructural facilities in comparison to other LCS in the North

East India. Electricity is available. Phone facility both for making local and

STD is available. Warehouse is undergoing construction. Weighbridge is

available. Construction of a big integrated trade complex has been completed

Constraints: Irifrastructure, Security ana Poutics

but not handed over to the competitive authority. However no branch of any

nationalized bank is functioning at present at LCS. The nearest bank for

international monetary transactions for export/import is at Karimganj (SBI &

United Bank). The Map 5.5 shows a graphical presentation of the Sutarkandi

LCS.

Map5.5 Sutarkandi Land Custom Station

Integrated trade Centre

Road from Karimganj No-Mans Land

BSF Check Post

LCS I Immigration

[, .--BS_F_O_ffi_tce---,

Map not to scale

The tables 5.7 and 5.8 show the export and import data of the trade

undertaken at the Sutarkandi LCS.

Sheola

Seola LCS is at Bianibazar Upazila of Sylhet district. Though the LCS's name

is Seola, but assessment, inspection and loading/unloading of goods take

place at Sutarkandi (Bangladesh) 4 km from the original Seola LCS. It is at

distance of about 50 km from Sylhet. 14 km from Bianibazar. The road

condition from Sylhet to Shola is poor especially Sheola Bridge to LCS station

is very poor. There is a broken culvert. The road communication and

infrastructural facilities at Sutarkandi checkpoint is very poor. The road

condition from Sylhet to Dubag is very good and spacious enough for two

trucks to cross each other at a time. However, the road from Dubag to

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security am{Po[itics

Sutarkandi is single and paved with some big potholes and ditches at some

places. It is very difficult for two trucks to cross each other on this road. One

truck has to remain standing while other crossing. This road has to be

developed for the easy movement of the vehicles.

This LCS has no warehouse facility, which creates problem for

importers to import any items other than bulk cargo like coal. This also deters

the prospective exporter to think of harnessing the potential of the LCS. The

custom station has no dumping yard under custom control. The land

presently being used as dumping ground is under the private ownership. It is

very low and can't be used in monsoon season. During the rainy season the

road from Dubag to Sutarkandi point is used as dumping ground aggravating

further the movement of vehicles through this single laned road. The LCS has

no shed and water facility. There is no parking or vehicle repairing facility at

the station or nearby vicinity.

There is no electricity in Sutarkandi - the functional LCS. The nearest

place where electricity is available is Dubag at a distance of about 4 km.

However electrification work is on and is expected to be completed soon.

There is no land phone facility at the functional LCS. Although

available at Dubag, the service is very poor. There is no fax or email service at

Dubag. Due to lack of telecommunication faCilities, the custom officials face

tremendous problems in communicating with higher authority at Sylhet in

case of any problem arising in assessment of goods.

There is no banking facility in Sutarkandi. As a result the local exporter

and importer and other businessman can't even perform their domestic

banking transaction and can't pay VAT and duties. Dubag Krishi Bank is at a

distance of 6 km. and Bianibazar Sonali Bank is a distance of 16 km. from the

LCS.

The customs authority has not its own permanent office building. It

maintains regular work by hiring a room from a local contractor but the

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security anaPoCitics

condition and space is not good/ adequate. There is no land for customs

authority. Land and a permanent office of customs is a basic minimum

requirement and is urgently required. Map 5.6 is the graphical presentation of

the Sheola LCS at Sutarkandi (Bangladesh).

Map5.6 Sheola Land Custom Station

I LCS

J (On Rent)

I Importer Office

Space for Loading & Unloading

(private)

~ I BDR I No Man's Land

Map Not to Scale

While major infrastructure is being built on the Indian side, some

strategic infrastructure such as warehouse and telecommunication facilities

should be built on the Bangladesh side immediately.

5.1.5 Karimganj - Zokiganj

Karimganj

Karimganj LCS is at Karimganj district headquarter of Assam, India. The LCS

is connected with NH 44 leading to Guwahati. But Nilmoni road (about 500

meter) in Karimganj leading to Steamerghat, which is the export point of the

LCS, needs to be improved and gravelled to facilitate smooth vehicular

movement for boosting export and import relations with Bangladesh through

Zokiganj.

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security andiPofitics

The distance of Shilchar, headquater of Cachar district of Assam is

about 60 km. from Karimganj while distance of Aizawl, Shillong, Agartala,

Imphal, Guwahati, Kohima from Karimganj is about 195 km., 220 km., 255

km., 280 km., 320 km. and 425 km. respectively. All the roads leading to these

cities are connected mostly by National Highways and the condition is good

for the current traffic except few patches. The tables 5.9 and 5.10 show India's

export and import data of last 3 years undertaken at Karimganj ferry station.

Zokiganj

Zokiganj LCS is one of the oldest LCS of Bangladesh. It is in Sylhet district

and a reverine custom station, situated on the River Kushiara. Presently

vessels can't come to the bank of the river due to low level of water during the

winter/dry season. The station is meant for both human and goods

movement.

At present Sylhet-Zokiganj route via Kaliganj is used by most of the

people and businessman to reach Zokiganj and the distance is 96 km. The

road condition is poor, dilapidated and single in some places. Repairing work

is underway.

Sylhet-Atgram-Zokiganj route reduces the distance between Sylhet and

Zokiganj by 17 km. Up to Atgram from Sylhet, the road is part of that Sylhet­

KaJigonj- Zokiganj road. From Sylhet to Atgram the distance is 68 km. and

from Atgram to Zokiganj the distance is about 11 km. This 11 km. stretch is

paved but single and not spacious enough for two trucks cross each other at a

time. Potholes are there and some are very dangerous. This road if developed

will save the cost and time of import and export.

There is another proposed road from Zokiganj to Sylhet via Seola. The

total distance of the road will be only about 50 km. The road is under

construction but the pace is very slow. After the road work is completed, it

will ensure faster communication between Zokiganj and the divisional

headquarter, Sylhet as well as other cities of the country.

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security and' PoCitics

The station has metalled road communication up to the no man's land.

Though single but two vehicles can cross each other as the road has enough

space to be developed further at both sides. The LCS has a warehouse but

very small. It requires to be extended in order to facilitate and handle

increased export and import through the station. The station has no

weighbridge and parking facilities and has no shed or godown.

Although the LCS is a recognized reverine route, there is no pontoon in

the river to facilitate anchor for barge, cargo ship or steamer, particularly in

winter or dry season when there is not enough water in the river hindering

them to anchor them at the bank.

The Zokiganj LCS has electricity but power failure is a common

phenomena. The LCS has both fixed telephone as well as mobile network. ISO

and fax facilities are also available at a walking distance.

The LCS has banking facility for paying VAT, Duty and Travel Tax. But

the international banking facility is available at Sylhet which is about 96 km

from the LCS. This is causing problem for the local exporter and importers.

The custom office has its own building and housing facility at the LCS. The

customs has its own land at the vicinity for further expansion.

5.1.6 Dawki- Tamabil

Dawki

Dawki is in Jaiantia Hills district of Indian state of Meghalaya. The nearest

towns are Shillong (84 km), state capital of Meghalaya, and Guwahati (182

km), state capital of Assam. LCS is connected with NH 40. If the roads were to

be straightened, both time and distance could be reduced. The distance from

Shillong to Guwahati is 103 kilometres. It has been suggested that this road

can be straightened, broadened and shortened to 60 kilometres. LCS is not

connected with railway and there is no potential for rail linking of the LCS.

The export point falls on the NH-40 coming from Shillong that links with

Sylhet of Bangladesh. There is also another road namely Dawki-Jowai (the

Constraints: I nfrastrncture, Security ancf Po[itics

headquarter of Jaintia Hills district and one of the major city of Meghalaya)

road is linked up to border point and has been declared as NH 40A. Though

this road is declared as National Highway but it is one of the worst roads in

the North East. The condtion of this road is very poor and narrow. The

bridges on these roads are so weak that the government has restricted to carry

loads exceeding 9 Metric Ton on the road. Both the roads require urgent

attention to help to accelerate bilateral trade through this LCS .

. The LCS has its own building with enough space. Electricity facilities

are good here. Telephone facilities are available here. There are private shed

available for oranges, gingers and vegetables. The LCS has parking space.

There is a weighbridge but it is not functional from the beginning. No attempt

has been made to repair this. State Bank of India has one branch at Dawki but

cannot deal with foreign exchange. The Map 5.7 is the graphical presentation

of the Dawki LCS followed by tables 5.11 and 5.12 showing the export and

import data at the Dawki LCS.

W•iti"g '''~~ Trucks

Map5.7 Dawki Land Custom Station

Land to be acquired for

Warehouse and dumping space

Immigration

Map Not to Scale

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security aruf Pofitics

Tamabil

Tamabil is situated at Goainghat Upazilla of Sylhet district. The distance from

Sylhet town to Tamabil via Jaintapur is altogether 54 km. The road is in very

good condition and spacious enough for two trucks to cross each other at a

time. The road is also strong enough for heavy trucks with huge loaded

tonnage. Approach road (of nearly 200 meter) up to the no man's land is also

good.

There is no warehouse facility at the LCS. For this reason import of

other commodities other bulk cargo like coal and stone is discouraged, as

those require longer inspection time and procedure and may require the

goods to stay for days together at the customs point. One weighbridge is there

but not functional. It has been reported that this weighbridge has been made

non-functional for motivated interests. Due to unavailability of weighbridge a

huge tax is evaded in connivance of some corrupt customs official and

unscrupulous businessmen by declaring less weight than actual. The LCS has

a dumping yard. Map 5.8 presents the graphical map of the Tamabil LCS. The

LCS has electricity but the service is very poor. There is no land phone facility

available at the LCS. However the LSC has mobile network but can't be

reached without antenna and the service is very poor. For this reason the

custom officials can't communicate their higher authority in Sylhet for instant

decision in case of value assessment and for administrative order. Due to lack

of ISO facility, the traders can't contact their counterparts across the border.

The weighbridge also does not function.

Sized Goods Go-down

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security aruf PoCitics

Map 5.8 Tamabil Land Custom Station

LCS

Private Dumping Yard

The LCS has no domestic and overseas banking facility. This is causing

problems to the traders. The nearest domestic bank is at Jaintapur which is 14

km. away from the LCS. However there is no international banking facility

available. For international banking transaction, the businessmen have to go

Sylhet. It causes serious problem for the local importers and potential

exporters which in turn is encouraging unofficial trade.

The custom has its own building and the condition of the office is all

right. Some new rooms have been built. Recently the land port has been

declared to be elevated to Commissionerate Office. Permission for acquiring

10 acres of land to develop it as land port has been sought. A feasibility study

was undertaken and the report of the study is already submitted to

Bangladesh Land Port Authority for further action.

5.1.7 Bholaganja- Chatak

Bholaganj LCS is in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. There is also

another active LCS at this area of Meghalaya named Shellabazar. The district

headquarter Shillong which is also the capital of the state is only 80 kms away

from the LCS.

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security and Po[itics

The approach road connecting Bholaganj customs point with the

National Highway leading to Shillong is in very poor condition. The road

condition of Shellabazar is also very poor and not motorable. The highway at

some point is also very bad.

Though India has two separate LCS at the vicinity with a short

distance but Bangladesh has only one corresponding LSC with 3 different

checkpoints. Bholaganj and Shellabazar LCS have no electricity. There is no

telephone, warehouse and parking facility at the LCS. The nearest

international banking facility is available in Shillong. The non-tribal

businessmen wishing to use these LCS require taking permission from Tribal

District Council with office in Tura and Shillong. This permission is generally

issued on product wise with certain validity period and renewable thereafter.

The table 5.13 shows India's export figures at the Bholaganj LCS.

Chatak

The corresponding LCS in Bangladesh is Chatak Chatak LCS is located at the

Chatak Upazilla of Sunamganj district. There are three check points under

Chatak LCS namely Chella, Ichamati and Bholaganj (Bangladesh). All these

three check points are active for import of mainly limestone and boulder. The

distance from Sylhet to this LCS is 36 km. The road is in good condition and

double laned. However the connecting roads from the LCS to the check points

are muddy. Road construction work is going on after which it is expected that

this LCS may be able to export some products to India.

There is no owned office structure at the check points. However, the

LCS at Chatak has its permanent building. The custom officials visit the check

points from the LCS and stay at the importers office at unloading points

which is very close to the no man's land. None of the check point under

Chatak LCS is having warehouse, shed or parking facility. There is no

permanent office structure of the customs. There is no electricity at the check

points. However the LCS office has electricity. No telephone facility is

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security and Po(itics

available at the check points not even mobile network but both land phone

and mobile service with ISD facility is available at the LCS.

Domestic banking facility is available at Chatak where VAT and duty

can be paid. For international banking the importers have to go Sylhet which

is 36 km away: As the road connecting Sylhet is in good condition, it hardly

takes one hour to reach. So banking is not much a problem here.

5.1.8 Borsora (India) - Borsora (Bangladesh)

Borosora (India)

Borosora is in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. The headquarter of the

district is Shillong which is also the state capital at a distance of about 182 kms

from the LCS.

Borosora LCS is connected by PWD road, which is connected with

State Highway leading to Shillong. The condition of the State Highway is in

very bad shape. Recently a bridge over the river Ranikar in the Shillong­

Borosora road has been constructed. In the absence of this bridge, goods and

people were carried by boats. Due to bad condtion of the road the state

government has banned trucks carrying more than 9 MT.

This LCS has no permanent custom office. Electricity is also not

available. The approach road from check point to the State Highway is very

poor. Road to Shillong is in weak condition. The LCS has no warehouse, shed,

weighbridge and parking facility. Telecommunication facility is also hot

available. The nearest point for telecommunication is at a distance of about 80

kms and the service remains disturbed for many days. No Banking facility for

international transaction is available here. The nearest banking facility

available is in Shillong. Table 5.14 shows India's export figure at the Borosora

LCS.

Borosora (Bangladesh)

Borosora is in the upazilla of Tahirpur of Sunamganj district of Bangladesh.

There is another customs checkpoint of the LCS named Cherargaon, which is

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security ami Po Cities

3 km from the Borosora checkpoint. Goods come through both the

checkpoints of Borosora and Cherargaon, which are under the same Borosora

LCS.

The distance from Sunamganj to the LCS is about 40 km. But the road

condition is very bad resulting frequent fatal accidents. Due to presence of

rivers on the way absence of ferry services, the traders have to load and

unload goods to and from the boat which needs additional cost of labourers.

There is no warehouse, shed, dumping yard, weighbridge and parking

facility at the LCS. There is electricity but the service is very poor. There are

no land phone facilities available. There is mobile network but it is very

difficult to get through. Due to this both custom as well as businessmen find

problem. There is no banking facility at the LCS or nearby even for domestic

purpose. Nearest bank is in Sunamganj at a distance of about 40 km. After the

assessment and inspection at the LCS the importer has to pay duty and VAT

at Sunamganj and then again go to the LCS for taking the delivery of goods.

Further, the customs office is working in a rented building. Good housing

facilities are not available to custom officials.

There is another checkpoint in Bangladesh side namely Dolura

bordering the same Meghalaya area. It bears more prospect for increasing

export and import between Meghalaya and Bangladesh. It has been declared

as a LCS in recent years. The point is about 15 km far from the other estuary

of River Surma flowing by Sunamganj town. This point can be made

operational as LCS. In the view of local businessmen on the Bangladeshi side,

if this point can be operational as LCS, the reported smuggling will be

reduced and as a result the government revenue collection will increase.

Further due to better communication and shorter distance, formal trade can

be started from this point and it will reduce the import export cost

substantially for the businessmen. The government of Bangladesh has already

proposed the state government of Meghalaya to recognise this LCS and take

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security aruf Poutics

necessary action to open a corresponding point on the Indian side. The

Meghalaya government also have shown positive response but due to strong

resistance of the exporters of Borosora point at Indian side who have already

made some permanent establishments there little progress has been made in

this direction. Further, a small bridge and a half km of metalled road have to

be built before the corresponding LCS is opened on the Indian side.

5.1.9 Gasuapara- Gobrakora/Koraitoli

Gasuapara

Gasuapara is in South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya whose headquarter is

at Baghmara. Actually there are two check posts under Gasuapara LCS

through which bilateral trade is undertaken. One is at Gasuapara which is

connected to Gobrakora. Another one Gandhibore at a distance of only 3 km

from Gasuapara which is connected to Koraitoli LCS of Bangladesh. But the

approach road from Gasuapara to Gandhibore is very bad.

Gasuapara LCS is located very near to the NH 62 of the Indian road

network with only 3 krn distance. However the condition of NH 62 is very

bad. It has about 100 wooden bridges which break quite often causing serious

problem in movement of goods. The approach road to the no man's land is in

deplorable condition and needs urgent attention. This LCS is only at a

distance of 15 km from Dalu another LCS of the same state which is directly

connected with NH 51 leading to Tura (46 km from Dalu) and further to

Shillong. If the proposed road connecting Gasuapara and Dalu is finished

then it will be a tremendous boost to the connectivity and trade along

Gasuapara LCS.

The LCS has no permanent building for official and residential

purpose. It has no electricity, telephone facility and weighbridge. The nearest

telephone facility is available at distance of 15 km; even the service is not

good and disconnected most of the time. The absence of warehouse act as a

discouraging factor in promoting trade. Some exporters from India have built

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security and' Pofitics

their own accommodation, guesthouse, electricity generator, repairing

workshop etc. in nearby areas. Pure drinking water is also not available at the

LCS. The State Bank of India is having a rural branch at Gasuapara but its

transaction capacity is very limited. The nearest international bank facility is

available at Goalpara (Assam) at a distance of about 185 km from the LCS.

This cause unnecessary delay and cost. The table 5.15 shows India's export

data at the Gasuapara LCS.

Gobrakora/Koraitoli

As mentioned above there as two LCS in Bangladesh side corresponding to

the two check post under Gasuapara LCS. One is at Gobrakora and another at

Koraitoli. We will discuss the infrastructure available at these two LCS one by

one

Gobrakora

Distance from Mymensingh to Gobrakora is about 57 km via Phulpur,

Haluaghat. Road up to Haluaghat (51 km) is in double laned and is in good

condition. But the road from Haluaghat to Gobrakora (6 km) is in very bad

shape. The road is very narrow and two trucks can't cross each other at a

time. There are no warehouse, weighbridge. The absence of warehouse

hinders the Bangladeshi exporters from exporting finished products. The

goods have to be kept under the open sky without security guaranty. There is

no electricity at Gobrakora LCS. All the transactions are closed at 4 pm

turning the entire vicinity a place of deep dark. There is no telephone facility

at the LCS. Mobile network is available at distance of about 6 km from the

LCS. There is a Sonali Bank at Haluaghat for paying VAT and other taxes.

There is no permanent office of the customs. There is a tin, shed house

with two small rooms given by the local importers to use as customs office

and residence for its officials. The custom office at the LCS doesn't have the

power for the assessment of the goods. The customs official only issue

inspection certificate after which the importers have to go Mymensingh

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security aruf Po[itics

Superintendent Office for assessment. He then pays required VAT and duty

at Mymensingh. After that he has to again come back to the LCS to take

delivery of the goods. Further if there is any silly mistake during inspection or

assessment, then the importer's sufferings know no bound as there is no

scope to take or give clarification on the issue over telephone. To avoid this

kind of inconvenience, the status custom office at the LCS can be elevated for

the assessment of goods.

Koraitoli

The distance from Gobrakora LCS to the Koraitoli LCS is about 2 km. The

road is a mixture of pavement, herringbone and mud. During monsoon the

trucks get bogged down in mud. The road is very narrow and not suitable for

heavy trucks. The infrastructural facility is very poor at the LCS. There is no

warehouse, electricity, weighbridge, residential facility in the LCS. Nearest

banking facility is at Haluaghat. No telephone facility is available here. There

is no permanent land and building for custom office. The custom officials

posted here are not always available. The assessment procedure here is the

same as the Gobrakora LCS. Due to very bad infrastructure traders are

reluctant to use this LCS.

5.1.10 Dalu- Nakugaon

Dalu

Dalu comes under the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya whose

headquarter is at Tura, the second largest city of Meghalaya. Dalu LCS is at a

distance of 46 km from Tura and 385 km from Shillong. The state capital. Dalu

LCS is directly connected to the NH 51 leading to Tura and Shillong. The road

condition is good. The LCS is also connected with NH 62 (extension) by PWD

road. The condition of this PWD road is very bad for which the government

has put a ban on vehicles of more that 9 Metric Tons. This LCS remains

operational during November to June. During monsoon it goes out of

operation. The proposed extension road of NH 62 from Baghmara to

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security and Pofitics

Mahendraganj via Dalu and Purakhasia requires immediate improvement as

it will touch all the LCS along this border belt namely Gasuapara, Dalu and

Mahendraganj.

Dalu LCS has a small custom building with electricity, telephone and

wireless system. However the LCS has no warehouse, weighbridge and

parking facilities. No banking facility is available at the LCS. Although there

is a State Bank of India at Berengapara, it is not well equipped to handle to

international transactions. For international transaction the traders have to go

Shillong or Guwahati which are at a distance of 385 and 270 km respectively.

Table 5.16 and 5.17 show India's Export and import volume at the Dalu LCS

in last three years.

Nakugaon

The corresponding LCS of Dalu at the Bangladesh side is Nakugaon.

Nakugaon is situated at Nalitabari upazilla of Sherpur district. It is at a

distance of about 109 km from Mymensingh via Phulpur, Sherpur and

Nalitabari. Road till Sherpur from Mymensingh (46 km) is in good condition

and double laned. Road from Sherpur to Nalitabari is paved but single.

However the road from Nalitabari to the Nakugaon (16 km) LCS is in very

bad condition. The first 10 km is little better than the last 6 km stretch which is

herringboned and marked with potholes.

Nakugaon LCS has a dumping yard but no weighbridge, warehouse

and parking facility available. Due to unavailability of weighbridge, the

Bangladeshi government loses revenue in case of bulk import of coal, bolder

and crushed stone. There is no electricity at the LCS. The nearest point where

electricity is available is at Nalitabari (16 km away from LCS). There is no

land phone facility at the LCS which causes much inconvenience both for

officials and businessmen. However LCS is under the mobile network. The

nearest banking facility is at Mymensingh at a distance of 46 km which

seriously hampers the business here. Customs has own office here but in very

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security aruf Pofitics

poor condition. The custom officers have very limited power for assessment

of goods which are normally done at Mymensingh.

5.1.11 Mahendraganj - Dhanua/Kamalpur

Mahendraganj

Mahendraganj LCS comes under the West Garo Hills districts of Meghalaya.

The LCS is connected by North East Council (NEC) road to the NH 37. The

NEC road is in very bad shape. The road is very narrow to accommodate two

trucks crossing each other. However after the expansion of NH 62, the road

connectivity will certainly be good. This LCS functions during pre and post

monsoon period and remains closed from July to October. It has no

permanent custom building. It has land phone facility but most of the time

STD/ISD service is out of order. This LCS has no warehouse or parking

facility. The State Bank of India located at Mahendraganj is not in position to

deal with moderately high value transaction. The nearest international

banking facility is available at Goalpara (Assam) which is about 165 km from

the LCS. Table 5.18 and 5.19 show India's Exports and imports volume at

Mahendraganj LCS.

Dhanua/Kamalpur

The corresponding LCS in Bangladesh side is Dhanua/Kamalpur.

20km 25 km 18 km 15km 22km 12 km

M ymensingh ..... Phul pur. .... N akia ...... .Sherpur. ........ Sribodi .......... Bakshiganj ...... D hanua/Kamalpur

Road from Mymensingh up to Sherpur (63 km) is good. After that up

to Bakshiganj (37 km) the road is single laned but paved. First 7 km of the

Bakshiganj-Dhanua/Kamalpur road is manageable but the last stretch of 5 km

is herringbone in deplorable condition. The road in this stretch is not strong

enough to handle heavy trucks. The LCS is not having warehouse facility,

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security ani Pofitics

weighbridge, parking and residential facility. Electricity is there but power

outage is frequent. There is no land phone service available. But it is under

good mobile network. Banking facility is available at Bakshiganj which is at a

distance of 12 km but for international banking facilities the traders have to go

Mymensingh.

5.2 Security and Political Concerns

If we go by the traditional concept of sovereignty, it is the duty of the national

government to ensure its border's safety resulting in the security and integrity

of the nation. This concept was practised strictly until recent years, we can

say till the end of cold war. But the forces of globalisation compelled the

nation-states to redefine the concept of sovereignty. In the western

hemisphere especially in Europe, borders slowly lost its traditional definition.

The borders started opening up for commercial purposes. Now, the situation

in Europe has been completely changed. The national borders do not exist for

most of the practical purposes. The rivalry among some of the European

nations ceased for the cause of economic benefit. Similar is the case of North

America, although the intensity and depth of integration is not as much as in

Europe. The formation of North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

resulted in high economic growth in the region. In South East Asia formation

of Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) brought economic

prosperity and political stability in the region ravaged by war or war like

situation few decades back. But similar kind of arrangement is not bearing

fruit in the South Asian region. In spite of formation South Asian Association

for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) way back in 1985, trade among the

SAARC countries has remained at 4 to 5 percent. The political instability both

inter and intra-state continues. As we discussed the benefit of regional

transport cooperation the previous chapters, little progress has been made in

this direction. Most scholars are of the opinion that lack of serious political

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security aruf Po[itics

will is the main cause for delay in development of an integrated transport

network. According to Sob han (2000: 7) disruption in the AL TID network

originate in politics. Similarly, Rahmatullah (2007: 37) states that the "root

cause behind lack of effective transport cooperation between Bangladesh and

India is political". According to him the cost of non-cooperation is very high.

Sobhan describes even the "invocation of memories of ancient link is not

going to persuade the political leaders of countries served by AL TID to

reconnect themselves with their historic neighbours". For this reason, South

East Asian countries have little knowledge about the region called South Asia.

Geographically we are neighbours but there exists huge distance in terms of

information about each other. For example, Myanmar was closely integrated

with South Asia during British period. But, it has become remote from its

western neighbours.

Security concerns and lack of strong political will are the major

software component of the larger system. The hardware part being the

infrastructural constraints as we discussed in the above section. Both

Bangladesh and India see each other as security threat. For example, India

perceives the Islamic fundamentalism in Bangladesh as a fuel to the separatist

movement in India's North East. Given the porous border between India and

Bangladesh, anti-national elements move freely across the border. The

increasing strength of Muslim outfit in India's North East can be observed as

the number of madrassas in states of India's North East is increasing. Assam

has 2, 002 madrassas having 1, 20, 000 students. Similarly, Tripura has 229

madrassas and more than 28, 000 students. A former Director-General of

Border Security Force of India once said that "we feel that madrassas form an

important part of Islamic and moral teachings but what disturbs us are the

link of foreign agencies with the persons who runs such institutions. There is

a need to check madrassas in strategically sensitive areas" (Gopal, 2004: 196).

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security arufCFofitics

Similarly, some of the Bangladeshi scholar feels that transhipment of

Indian goods may provoke or encourage insurgent activities in Bangladesh.

They also feel that India may use the Bangladeshi corridors to move military

equipments without the knowledge of Bangladesh. This fear is baseless for

three reasons. Firstly, the current arrangement in Inland Water Transport

does not prove so. Apart from that modern tools for inspection can be

installed and Bangladeshi authorities will have full right to inspect the

consignment throughout its passage inside Bangladesh. Secondly, the transit

facility will be of great importance to India. Therefore, India will take utmost

precaution to ensure that the goods don't include any material objectionable

to Bangladesh from security point of view. This is because of the fact that

India will like to keep the good faith and good will with Bangladesh in this

matter as free flow of goods in this route is in the economic interest of India

(Ahmed, 2003). More so ever, for Bangladesh, the issue is political rather than

a security issue. Bangladesh wants to give transit access to India in lieu of

duty free access to its goods in India. Therefore, if Bangladesh goes ahead

with the current route plan of Asian Highway then, it will lose its only

bargaining chip with India. Thirdly, why should India move military

equipment through Bangladesh as it can always do so through the Siliguri

corridor (Ahmed, 2003).

Further, by developing required infrastructure and streamlining the

access to India, Nepal and Bhutan Bangladesh will get a good amount of

foreign currency as royalty, transit fee and related services. It has been

estimated that Bangladesh could earn between Tk. 600-800 crore annually.

Further, Bangladesh could also develop an export trade of US 50-100 million

with India's North East. These two earnings can reduce the trade balance it

has with Bangladesh (Ahmed, 2003). Given adequate infrastructure along

with these kinds of trade facilitation measures, the unofficial trade could be

diverted to the formal route as the price difference between formally and

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security aruf Pofitics

informally trade items will decrease drastically. Brigadier General Abu Belal

Muhammad Shafiul Hug of National Defence College, ·Dhaka undertook a

study and the recommendations are encouraging. They are (Hug, 2007: 34):

1. As there is immense economic potential and not much serious security

concerns related to the project, Bangladesh should join the AH

Network without any further delay.

2. The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) should form a committee to

study the possibility of a common and comprehensive agreement on

transit encompassing India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar

under the auspices of the AH Network. The committee should consider

the economic, security, social and environmental aspects of the

agreement and recommend most beneficial terms for Bangladesh.

3. To minimize the possibility of security threats due to transit through

Bangladesh (if granted), the Government of Bangladesh should

constitute an expert committee to recommend possible measures

needed to be taken at the entry point of AH at the international border

and during the entire route of transit.

If Bangladesh is not integrating into the transport system of the region, then

the system will develop without Bangladesh and in that scenario, Bangladesh

will have to pay heavily (Rahmatullah, 2007: 42). Due to reluctance on the

part of Bangladesh, India has started seriously about getting access to for the

India's North East. In this direction, India has finalised the $100 million

Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project with Myanmar. This project

will be beneficial both for India and Myanmar and India's North East will get

a route to sea. Framework Agreement along with two Protocols has already

been signed. The work is expected to start from next year (Ganapathy, 2007).

So the need of the hour is to stop blaming each other and work for the

development of the region. Strong political will remove the illogical and

perceived barriers in mutual economic interaction.

Constraints: I nfrastrncture, Security ana Pofitics

Data Tables

Source for all the data table in this section is the data collected from office of

the Commissioner, Customs House, Shilong, India.

Table 5.1 India's Ex.eorts to Bangladesh at Srimantapur LCS

L.C.S. 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 SRIMANT APUR

Quantity Value Value Value

(EXPORT) (INR) Quantity

(INR) Quantity

(INR)

Ginger 371.78 MT. 3553873 201 MT. 2032719 67MT. 667061 Sanitary wares 100 PCS 13380 7225 PCS. 611163 Printed matter 10MT 181624 Tezpata 18.435 MT 51209 Switch socket of plastic 767.08 kg 82441 Potato seeds 8MT. 47694 Plastic sitch and socket 0.7MT. 70969 Mooli bamboo 30MT. 17998 Raw hides and skin 153.73 MT. 2938557 Bay leaves (tez patta) 12MT. 36964 Parts and accessories of 10.827 MT. 1066619 agricultural products Colour woven fabrics 600 MTRS. 18184 Brasiers 1000 res. 18650 Printed picture or poster 2MT. 37300 Marble stone 3MT. 9671 Fresh potato 30MT. 184284 Bamboomuli 163 MT. 99982 TOTAL 3930221 2121686 5688435

Table 5.2 India's Imports from Bangladesh at Srimantapur LCS

L.C.S. 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 IMANTAPUR

Quantity Value

Quantity Value

Quantity Value

(IMPORT) (INR) (INR) (INR)

ter non-knitted 251076 MTRS. 957984 des of .thetic fibre it juice based 3450CTRN. 654233 1ks: litchi dible molasses 426 MT. 1768643 50MT. 240239 20MT. 98575 'flat tube 248 MT. 4620750 300 MT. 6054912 450 MT. 10060248 ken or 80MT 82306 50MT. 52738 2040 MT. 2162117 shed stone ·pipes and 7.5 MT. 154768 3MT. 62933 es ·ated water 1928CTRN. 715511 33.785 KL. 1790451 27.604 MT. 357767 :uits 1.879 MT. 85971

o:ill

L.C.S. SRIMANT APUR

(IMPORT)

Potato crackers Ceramic tiles Other waste of wool Rope of jute Mattress of cellular rubber Brick crusher machine Plastic chair

Potato chips Doors, window frames, threshold items Ordinary portland cement Hilsa fish Mosquito net

Fruit juice based drinks Soap Egg noodles,chips, potato crackers Other knitted or croheted fabrics Synthetic drink Pvc pipes and filters Different food items Soyabean oil Head gear of textile fabrics Other fabrics of polyster staple fibre Other non-knitted crocheted fibre Other woven fabric of staple fibre Palm oil Float glass

Handloom cotton

2004-05

Value Quantity

(INR)

0.460 M.T 47367 7292.295 MT. 957099

14MT. 73596

5MT 39769 1800 CFT 206325

4NOS. 211635

3000 PCS + 23 1027851 MT.

810CTRN. 162017 575.5 MT. 27242

Constraints: I njrastructure, Security ana Po{itics

2005-06 2006-07

Quantity Value

Quantity Value

(INR) (INR)

14507 SQMT. 1979247

1 NO. 51564

350 MT. 881696

4MT. 352400 81100 MTRS. 377784

2.75 MT. 39.744 KL. 3300 650226

CTRN.

1100CTRN. 532673

4322615 KGS. 41427

4000 KGS. 300985

44.292 KL. 436454 1.5 MT. 32295

2556.9 KGS. 160970

35.786 MT. 1031192 1MT. 18609

40002 MT. 359959

8MT. 608716

65000 365773 MTRS.

61.306 MT. 1368090 16125.08 1218648

SQMT. 600 SQMT. 11950

Constraints: Infrastrncture, Security anaPoCitics

L.C.S. 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 SRIMANT APUR Value Value Value

(IMPORT) Quantity

(INR) Quantity

(INR) Quantity

(INR)

saree Palmolive 17.48 MT. 396178

TOTAL 11793067 13369275 18687541

Table 5.3 India's Exports to Bangladesh at Agartala LCS

L.C.S. 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 AGARTALA Value Value Value

(EXPORT) Quantity

(INR) Quantity

(INR) Quantity

(INR)

Dry fish 184.5 MT. 3267662 188.5 MT. 3339070 72000 KGS. 1268640 Dust variety coal 460.4 MT. 819186 4.4 MT. 7691 Wall clock 1500 PCS. 102676 Dried chilly 62.55 MT. 2016303 Fresh ginger 92.5 MT. 827638 5MT. 67500 Raw hides skin 1725 PCS. 192441 3175 PCS.11 MT. 713311 41559 PCS. 955381 Natural rubber latex 15.96MT 596226 Coir mattress 663.11 CFT. 89978 Playing cards 100GROSS 22750 Turmeric 12.5 MT. 327930 Onion 3MT 30195 Potato seed 225.3 MT. 1322513 Limestone 10 MT. 26700 Orange 2MT. 18180 Other fabrics of 500 MTRS. 23537 painting & shirting Lime stones (dust) 7MT. 18207 Scrap of cast iron 66 MT. 574000 Fresh tomato 9.480 MT. 38846 Used pet bottle 4MT. 13140 Bamboo 20MT. 11688 Parts of motor cycles 720 KGS. 46086 Tomato 72032 KGS. 1867743 Ginger 15MT. 150356 Potato 60MT. 314078 Refined soya bean 27000 KGS. 511402 oil TOTAL 9683915 4829539 5067600

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security ana Poutics

Table 5.4 India's Imports from Bangladesh at Agartala LCS

L.C.S. 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 AGARTALA Value Value Value

(IMPORT) Quantity (INR)

Quantity (INR)

Quantity (INR)

Aerated water 950CTRN. 429494 18100 LTRS. 200205 79.2 KL. 1121655 3000CTRN.

Animal feed 303.45 MT. 1002434 2961.8 MT. 15685619 2538 MT. 13916390 Babul gum 125 CTRN. 57448 Badam bhaja 820 CTRN. 86472 Battery parts 20000 PCS 92200 Biscuits 7878CTRN. 683467 6220CTRN. 776186 6.278 MT. 141945 Brick crusher 18 NOS. 922877 5 NOS. 256565 9NOS. 468051 machine Broken I crushed 9671.33 MT. 10393102 37037.51 MT. 38090561 126317.27 131354973 stone MT. Building bricks 2500 PCS 2769 Candy 925 CTRN. 283250 Cashew nut 7MT 113444 45MT. 727125 Cement 1600 MT. 4182126 7775 MT. 21488269 17863 MT. 53999661 Coriander 3.2MT. 40348 Dry cell battery 42000 PCS. 362318 125800 PCS. 1541641 533144 PCS. 2298248 Dry fish 383.210 MT. 9424192 543.91 MT. 14179096 710.425 MT. 16692896 Filter sets 300 SETS 30679 Fruit magic 350 CTRN. 66719 Furniture 0 2455454 3697 NOS. 19.741 4750998 65.196 MT. 4973218

MT. Hilsa fish 374.117 MT. 26515810 816.68 MT. 71920063 616.526 MT. 56557328 House hold articles 34.7 MT. 610752 25.19 MT. 781685 of plastic Instant powder 100 CTRN 20576 orange drink Lay flat tube 305 MT. 5617900 205 MT. 3840250 170 MT. 3878750 Lime stone 10MT. 29920 10MT. 29716 Litchi/orange/mango 192700 CTRN. 19223817 drinks Mattress of cellular 4116CFT. 454162 1700 CFT. 168289 4000 PCS. 204300 rubber Molasses 87MT. 585390 275 MT. 1287927 345 MT. 1663970 Mustard oil 19.392 MT. 387840 52.5 MT. 1050000 Other non-knitted 120000 MTRS. 738820 articles of synthetic fibre Other waste of wool 188.285 MT. 1462564 221.3 MT. 1975728 Other woven fabric 44000MTRS. 253851 of polyester staple fibre P.v.c. pipes and 2MT 40905 18.361 MT. 364310 22MT. 449310 tubes P.v.c. £lastic/sheets 3MT 134850

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security aru! Po[itics

L.C.S. 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07

AGARTALA Value Value Quantity

Value (IMPORT)

Quantity (INR)

Quantity (INR) (INR)

Potato crackers 7850CTRN. 2178040 10005 CTRN. 2428571 3.198 MT. 260395 Refined soya bean oil 158.75 MT. 5024077 1310.614 MT. 30064930 1263.924 38832790

MT.

Resins 911 MT. 100604 49MT. 316202 88MT. 586737

Rope of jute 46.07MT. 363512 264.367MT. 2834301 172 MT. 1368862

Salted hilsha 5.54 MT. 205171 9.46 MT. 495866 13.26 MT. 736748 Small fish varieties 420.25 MT. 12738509 770.95 MT. 22880475 1090.21 MT. 49660599

Tamarind chutny 1675 CTRN. 373632 Tiles 5012.68 SQMT. 776875 Toilet soap 1933 CTRN. 2303017 Corn flakes 18000 PCS. 47196 Cotton waste 68MT. 726960 456 MT. . 4983996 Floor covering 1 MT. 26790 tinoxyne Food products 18026 CTRN. 2889970 50.297 MT. 809715

22.103 MT. Hand pump 1000 PCS.16.5 443216 53.25 MT. 867522

MT. Harican lamp 600 PCS. 196650 Litchi drink 13350CTRN. 15087744 636216 KL. 9041662

424.56 KL. Man made staple 2 MT.2214204 1089073 fibre SQMT. Mattress 5 NOS. 496 CFT. 77411

Mosquito net 190000 MTRS. 2328309 9.35 MT.

Other thrashing 26NOS. 558437 71 NOS. 1149040

machine Palm oil 226.648 MT. 4641700 1031.625 21874143

MT.

Soap 74880 PCS. 343068 Tissue paper 2639.7 KGS. 132217 Vanaspati 112.995 MT. 3179353 153 MT. 3974238 Zinc plates 40MT. 107160 Agricultural 14.1 MT. 373004 machineries Alluminium frame of 1.4 MT. 56640 doors and windows Blow moulding 2NOS. 482179

machine Ceremic tiles 13000 1777200

SQMT. Concrete mixture 1 NO. 16293

machine Cosmetics and toilet 8.875 MT. 320887

items Doors I window 9.8MT. 365760 frame of lastic

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security and' Pofitics

L.C.S. 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 AGARTALA Value Value Value

(IMPORT) Quantity (INR)

Quantity (INR)

Quantity (INR)

Fabrics and polyster 792189.5 6901464 fibre SQMT. Float glass 38761.202 2362375

SQMT. Foot wear 0.055 MT. 25474 Hand loom cotton 4650 SQMT. 114541 saree 115 NOS. Knitted cotton fabrics 111.7 MT. 3525851 Knitted fabrics of 5.1 MT. 377554 synthetic fibre

Machine for farming 2NOS. 29977 foundry mould of sand Malamine 0.387 MT. 29645 Mango juice 1.96 KL. 139 Other household 62.72 MT. 1723446 articles

Other knitted or 37MT. 2774392 croached synthetic fibre

Other made up 87.5 MT. 1190457 articles of cotton

Other woven fabrics 20000 266700 of cotton MTRS. Plastic furniture 3MT. 132594 Quick lime 18 MT. 58736 Raw jute 1498.487 20425687

MT.

Ready made grments 341 NOS. 19269 Waste of synthetic 4MT. 36960 fibre

Weeder machine 3500 PCS. 562870 Wooden and metal 12.457 MT. 732663 furniture Zinc flakes 580 MT. 1594440

TOTAL 110769387 269282707 468871464

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security ana Pofitics

Table 5.5 India's Exports to Bangladesh at Ranghnabazar LCS

L.C.S. 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 RAGNA BAZAR Value Value Value

(EXPORT) Quantity (INR)

Quantity (INR)

Quantity (INR)

Citrus fruits 205150 NOS. 192808 10917.80 KGS. 82613 12484 KGS .. 86356 Fresh ginger 71.430 MT. 772289 11.880 MT. 133350 24300 KGS. 218706 Betel leaves 460KGS. 15845 270KGS. 9439 Orange 126960 NOS. 126950 7104.5 MT. 78464

33720 NOS. Fresh orange 1260 KGS. 44977

33720 NOS.

TOTAL 1107892 303866 350039

Table 5.6 India's Imports from Bangladesh at Ranghna Bazar LCS

L.C.S. 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 RAGNABAZAR Value Value Quantit Value

(IMPORT) Quantity

(INR) Quantity

(INR) y (INR)

Mosquito net 13145 MTRS 61985 150 KGS. 11081 Polyester fabric 9792.5 54924

MTRS Biscuit 8206.60 KGS 221606 Woven polyster fabric 7100 MTRS 41269

Juice 69.768 MT 474300 Beauty soap 8480 KGS. 440160 Fruit juice based drink 187272 1265455

LTRS. Keya soap 7295 KGS. 473040 Sunlite battery 7617.5 37659

KGS. Woven synthetic 300 13730 20000 94767 staple fibre SQMS. SQMT. Printed mosquito net 1259 KGS. 96018 Gangi (vest) 4814 res. 123553

TOTAL 1294244 1800965 314338

Table 5.7 India's Exports to Bangladesh at Sutarkandi LCS

2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 ----·- --------·

L.C.S. Value Value Value

SUTARKANDI Quantity (INR)

Quantity (INR)

Quantity (INR)

(EXPORT)

Coal 530374.2 MT. 213372113 180367.58 MT. 322733527 258182.34 MT. 510354723 Ceramic wares 320 Pes 48039 TOTAL 213420152 322733527 510354723

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security and Pofitics

Table 5.8 India's lm_eorts from Bangladesh at Sutarkandi LCS.

L.C.S. 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07

SUTARKANDI Quantity

Value Value Quantity

Value (IMPORT) (INR)

Quantity (INR) (INR)

--------... ·--------------·-----------··------·----· ... -·-··---··-----------------------------Juice, potato 3481.315 MT. 27317201 crackers, badam bhujia, chutney etc. Hilsa fish 384.3 MT. 27338440 569 MT. 48653846 495.25 MT. 46384461 Soap and telcom 95.215 MT. 5949735 powder Battery plate 9.2MT 181800 Keya soap 25.776 MT 1719602 Bakery product 28.322 MT. 809440 Metal/wooden 14.544 MT. 1202986 furniture Lascha semai 2.4 MT 25896 4.18 MT. 108288 Beverage 28.5 MT. 452438 Waste of wool 22MT. 243474 Waste of cotton 43MT. 464050 407.08 4414199 464.72 MT. 5784223

MT. Mosquito net 158000 MTRS. 727206 44000 202910

MTRS. Cement 500 MT. 1391255 1350 MT. 4545153 Juice products 25.6 MT. 1500 1598437 23.725 MT. 234766

CTRN. Candy products 64.644 MT. 1532415 Potato crackers 7.72 MT. 663152 0.833 MT. 77438 Fruit magic 12.305 MT. 110296 Aerated water 99.752 MT. 368936 27.12 MT. 345888 Soap 1682.621 MT. 4671646 20.470 MT. 913192 Litchi drink 184.8 LTRS. 1717738 808.332 MT. 7065903 Furniture wooden 5215.617 MT. 3540679 Furniture plastic 1821.859 MT. 248648 Biscuits 46.608MT. 685928 60.866MT. 1066715 Drink product 478.185 MT. 4104346 Badam bhaja 10.32 MT. 119312 1.8 MT. 17598 Chana chur 0.073 MT. 12246 Malamine table 44.383 MT. 467874 10.323 MT. 711063 ware Dry cell battery 6563.721 MT. 1415332 71.899 MT. 4015434 Pickles 0.63 MT. 21121 0.63 MT. 21121 Food product 2247.476 MT. 15213462 Malamine ware 279.7MT. 386258 Palm oil 30MT. 677217 Vanaspati 2149.89 MT. 59214122 3238.975 90130688

MT. Rose water 0.11 MT. 2837 1.3 MT. 34305 Al-amin food 151.472 MT 93708 Ca,e 1.850 MT. 98550

L.C.S. SUTARKANDI

(IMPORT)

Cartons Chips Chutney Drinks pran Float glass Furniture Gum candy Malamine kitchen ware Mango bar Molasses Pickles Pran candy Pran magic cup jam and jellies Roasted and fried vegetable product Sanitary napkin Soya bean oil

Sugar confectionery Synthetic drinks

Vegetable oil Wooden and metal furniture

TOTAL

2004-05

Quantity

Constraints: I nfrastrncture, Security and Po Cities

2005-06

Value (INR)

Quantity Value. UNR)

67823523 150042957

Table 5.9

2006-07

Quantity Value (INR)

4B50 MT 19799 5.68 MT. 431105

26354 MT. 661082 1.2 MT. 15254

2.45 MT. 351335 39.574 MT. 3177111 15.137 MT. 396240 276.9 MT. 193014

0.9MT. 34305 26MT. 125121

0.63 MT. 21121

12.6 MT. 337907

127.441 MT. 1057340

3.490 MT. 128677

3.16 MT. 137306 10543.603 100694558

MT. 47.2 MT. 551919 3575.787 31462954

MT. 49.99 MT. 1480317

15.880 MT. 1274649

304178487

India's Exports to Bangladesh at Karimganj Ferry Station L.C.S. KARIMGANJ 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07

STEAMER AND FERRY

Quantity Value

Quantity Value

Quantity Value

STATION (INR) (INR) (INR) (EXPORTS)

Ginger 2624.189 MT. 29195834 1911.263 MT. 22594549 2509.31 MT. 23568777 Citrus fruits 2018870 NOS. 2294093 999345 NOS. 1105467 1371640 NOS. 1493520 Lime stone 1300 MT 344972 Fresh vegetable 8.176 MT 76582 Orange 3559950 NOS. 3692194 5907819 NOS. 6672008 Rice (non-basmati) 77.692 MT. 745222 Betel leaves 2784 KGS. 86555 1154 KGS. 43211 Fresh fruit litchi 250 KGS. 3251 Fresh fruit orange 4287930 NOS. 4711926 Chaw chai quash 2.52 MT. 8044 2.52 MT. 8044 Grapes 225 KGS. 6579 Dri: fish ( varieties ) 152.219 MT. 2698273 TOTAL 36435452 28473027 34440622

ITill

Coal

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security and Po(itics

Table 5.10 India's Imports from Bangladesh at Karimganj Ferry Station

L.C.S. 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 KARIMGANJ

STEAMER AND ,FERRY STATION

(IMPORT)

Quantity Value (INR)

Value Quantity Quantity

(INR) Value (INR)

-... ·-------.. -----··-----~····---------··-----···-··· .. -·-········--···--··---···-··--··-··-···-·-------·····-·····--------··----------Molasses Cotton waste Deep fried crispy snack Mosquito net Other knitted fabrics

TOTAL

45 MT. 22MT.

1813.20 KGS. 51000MTRS.

104282 45 MT. 215425 244753 179356 234657 51000 MTRS. 235191

8982.86 KGS. 710841 763048 1161457

Table 5.11 India's Exports to Bangladesh at Dawki LCS

L.C.S. 2004-05 2005-06 DAWKI Value Value

(EXPORT) Quantity (INR)

Quantity (INR)

311329 MT. 554052882 292313.6 M.T. 476211782

30MT. 151543

26950 KGS. 1331706

1483249

2006-07

Value Quantity

(INR)

239138.584 MT. 471834816 Lime Stone 163 MT. 42012 552 MT. 140637 6322.4 MT. 1635279 Oranges 202860 NOS. 810360 2246980 NOS. 2145691 Boulder Stone 65MT. 14495 531.9 MT. 193507 Citrus Fruits 8040 NOS. 12060 Raw Hides And Skin 57MT. 1029360 Tomato 6000 KGS. 78000 TOTAL 554931809 478498110 474770962

Table 5.12 India's Imports from Bangladesh at Dawki LCS

L.C.S. 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 DAWKI Value Value Value

(IMPORT) Quantity (INR)

Quantity (INR)

Quantity (INR)

Baggage 112 CTRN. 126183 Misc. Items for trade fair 0 87563 335640

TOTAL 87563 461823

Table 5.13 India's Exports to Bangladesh at Bholaganj LCS

L.C.S. 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 BHOLAGANJ

(EXPORT)

Lime stone Boulder stone TOTAL

Quantity

230696 MT. 2210 MT.

Value (INR)

Quantity

68415564 221643.5 MT. 501538

68917102

Value Quantity

Value (INR) (INR)

74620658 402961 MT. 112958849 530 MT. 113585

74620658 113072434

L.C.S. BORSORA (EXPORT)

Coal Lime stone

TOTAL

L.C.S. GASUAPARA

(EXPORT)

Constraints: I nfrastrncture, Security aruf Po(itics

Table 5.14 India's Exports to Bangladesh at Borosora LCS

2004-05 2005-06 2006-07

Quantity Value

Quantity Value

Quantity Value

(INR) (INR) (INR)

411328 MT. 733725864 461026 MT. 828959408 473528.85 MT. 924223201 29891 MT. 7687153 29475.26 MT. 17371971 125408.7 MT. 32670466

741413017 846331379 956893667

Table 5.15 India's Exports to Bangladesh at Gasuapara LCS

2004-05 2005-06 2006-07

Value Value Value Quantity

(INR) Quantity

(INR) Quantity

(INR)

Coal 92852.4 MT. 174671501 118080.8 MT. 233616121 231499.4 MT. 472683846

Ginger TOTAL

L.C.S. DALU

(EXPORT)

Coal Lime Stone Boulder Stone Ginger Blast Stone Orange

TOTAL

L.C.S. DALU

(IMPORT)

Kutchia fish Synthetic net fabric

TOTAL

21.126 MT. 158202

174671501 233616121 472842048

Table 5.16 India's Exports to Bangladesh at Dalu LCS

2004-05 2005-06 2006-07

Value Value Value Quantity

(INR) Quantity

(INR) Quantity

(INR)

35529 MT. 68173959 46399 MT. 114263305 53363.4 MT. 108107840 700 MT. 189910 504.7 MT. 132980 235.5 MT. 63466 200 MT. 72720 200 MT. 71840 60MT. 404595

532 MT. 191974 20MT. 188580

69033158 114584865 108243146

Table 5.17 India's Imports from Bangladesh at Dalu LCS

2004-05

Quantity Value (INR)

2005-06

Quantity

2MT.

Value (INR)

65926

65926

2006-07

Value Quanti_ty ___ . (INR)

4MT .33475PCS. 200KGS.

711672

711672

Constraints: Infrastructure, Security ana Pofitics

Table 5.18 India's Exports to Bangladesh at Mahendraganj LCS

L.C.S. 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 MAHENDRAGANJ

Quantity Value

Quantity Value

Quantity Value

(EXPORT) (INR) (INR) (INR)

Coal 2858 MT. 5366905 5176 MT. 9979032 3309 MT. 6822234 Crushed stone 8033 MT. 4977113 5023 MT. 3088745 1472 MT. 1002849 Boulder stone 944 MT. 419351 2000 MT. 867583 Ginger 344.920 MT. 2302034 617 MT. 4145566 415 MT. 2917209 Bamboo 51 MT. 38665

TOTAL 13065403 17213343 11648540

Table 5.19 India's Imports from Bangladesh at Mahendraganj LCS

L.C.S. 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 MAHENDRAGANJ

Quantity Value

Quantity Value

Quantity Value

(IMPORT) (INR) (INR) (INR)

Mosquito net 275000 MT. 1249588 100000 MTRS. 449604 Cotton waste 402MT. 1802650 582.95 MT. 2923844 594 MT. 3043687 Hilsa fish lOOOKGS 142480 Litchi drink 8MT 95989

Readymade garments 508018 PCS. 9931243 908904 PCS. 14416807

500 KGS. Synthetic net fabrics 151 MT. 6920219 500 MT. 23069215 Float glass 131679.668 SQMT. 8719293

TOTAL 3290707 20224910 49249002