The abrupt exit of Bangladesh former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has disrupted trade between India and Bangladesh, which had flourished during her tenure. The movement of trucks transporting goods at the Changrabandha border check post in West Bengal's Cooch Behar district has nearly halted.
Hasina resigned on Aug 5 and fled the country for her safety amid violent protests. After beginning her fifth term earlier this year, she left Dhaka on a military aircraft and arrived in India.
"We estimate that the political crisis in Bangladesh has affected about $300 million worth of export trade. We export about $30 million to Bangladesh every day," Ajay Sahai, the Director-General of the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO), said.
Bangladesh is India's largest business partner in the subcontinent, with Delhi being Dhaka's second major partner in Asia after China.
Additionally, Bangladesh ranks as the fourth largest export destination for India.
"Export has come to a standstill. Many trucks are stuck, and even the movement of people with visas has minimized now," Dhiraj Guha, an Indian exporter, said.
"Indian imports are happening, but exports are completely stalled, and many of our trucks are stuck," another businessman said.
The ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh could impede the progress of a potential free trade agreement between the two nations, which was initiated last October. Additionally, businesses in Indian states bordering Bangladesh are suffering significant losses due to the crisis. Shopkeepers, transporters, and money changers in these areas are experiencing more than an 80 percent drop in their operations.
"The movement of people across the border is decreasing with every passing day. We have been sitting the whole day and are not getting any passengers to ferry to the nearest station," said Sanjay Das, an autorickshaw driver at the international border check post in Petrapole in the Bagaon district of West Bengal.
"Our business has been hit hard," he added.
Trade activity has also declined at the Akhurah-Agartala border check post in Tripura, a key trade hub between India and Bangladesh.
"Earlier, we used to receive 15 trucks of fish imports daily. Other items would range from about 35 trucks. But today, only one truck of fish and two trucks of other items have entered. There is almost no trade happening, and it is hurting us financially," Titan Das, a goods handler, said.
Despite this, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha expressed skepticism that the situation will persist for an extended period.
