India-Bangladesh border trade resumes through West Bengal's Petrapole land port

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After a gap of over 8 weeks, bilateral trade has finally resumed through Petrapole Integrated Check Post at the India-Bangladesh border.

West Bengal resumed bilateral trade with neighbouring Bangladesh through the Petrapole Integrated Check Post (ICP) in North 24 Parganas district on Sunday.

"We are allowing bilateral trade to resume through the Petrapole ICP and all necessary safety protocol will be followed." Shankar Adhya, the outgoing chairman of Bongaon Municipality said.

The Land Port Authority of India had given a letter to the district magistrate on Sunday, requesting the movement of stranded trucks near Petrapole.

"A pool of 100 local truck drivers will be permitted to go only up to 500 metres within the Bangladesh port area and return after unloading goods. We are trying to locate a healthy solution so that our drivers, who will be leaving from India, are safe. They're our responsibility," Shankar Adhya said.

Another official said that trade will be allowed for 12 hours daily.

"However, the drivers who'll be going to Bangladesh for unloading goods will get PPE kits, hand gloves and masks by the BGTA Welfare Association, employers' association, and workers' association for their safety. Empty trucks will have to be sanitised, too," Shankar Adhya added.

The Petrapole Check Post was reopened on April 30, over per month after being closed due to lockdown.

However, four days after resuming operations, India's biggest land port again turn off on, may 2 following protests by Trinamool Congress-backed labour unions and villagers over the spread of coronavirus through Bangladeshi labourers to Indian drivers and helpers.

All Bangladesh-bound vehicles stranded in and around the Petrapole check post, around 80-km from Kolkata, will be cleared by June 14.

Petrapole Land Port Authority of India manager Suvajit Mandal said that adequate safety measures had been adopted.

"We've engaged four teams for sanitisation of trucks and can handle 240-300 trucks a day. We can increase if trade demands," he said.

There have been some reluctance among the drivers in which to stay the Central Warehousing Corporation parking zone after return where a facility for his or her stay have been arranged.

Based on the directive, the drivers must mandatorily stay in isolation when they aren't working. A pool of 50 drivers and helpers will work for 15 days and stay static in isolation before they are permitted to go home.

The local administration in addition has asked traders to be ready with another pool of 50 drivers beyond your ICP area for any exigencies.

"A lot of trucks are stranded nearby the border as a result of lockdown. Exports through Petrapole check post will resume on Sunday. We've decided to follow the instructions distributed by the administration," an official of exporters' body FIEO said.

Some local persons were also pleased with the resumption of trade although some were concerned that it may bring about spread of coronavirus in the area.

"It is heartening to notice the trade has resumed. A whole lot of economic activity would depend on movements of goods from Petrapole," said 30-year old Asim.

However, a middle aged woman from a local village remained worried about the spread of the deadly virus that might put on their homes from the border.

"Recently, we'd protested against the movement of trucks over the border fearing spread of infection. Now, the same is currently diluted and trucks will go and return from Bangladesh. I and worried," she said.
Source: https://www.indiatoday.in

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