Import and export operations at Hili Land Port in Dinajpur resumed on Saturday following an eight-day closure for Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of Hindus.
The temporary suspension, which lasted from September 26 to October 3, was mutually agreed upon by traders from Bangladesh and India, according to Md. Nizam Uddin, Revenue Officer of Hili Land Port Customs.
Trade activities restarted around 10:30 AM today, with 17 Indian trucks loaded with goods entering Bangladesh by noon. In return, two Bangladeshi trucks carrying export items crossed into India.
The closure had led to a temporary increase in the price of green chillies in local markets, noted Ferdous Rahman, president of the Hili Land Port C&F Agents Association. However, with trade resuming, trucks carrying green chillies from India have started entering the port, and unloading is expected to begin later today.
Ferdous expressed optimism that the prices of green chillies would stabilize once the regular flow of imports is restored. He also confirmed that the suspension of operations had been a joint decision by traders from both countries, and activities at the port resumed this morning.
