FCC

Indo-Bangla trade resumes via rail, 40k tonnes of freight exported

2024-09-12

Trade between India and Bangladesh has resumed via the Benapole land port, with around 40,000 tonnes of freight exported from India to the neighbouring country. Although passenger train services remain suspended since July 19, the movement of goods has picked up.

The exported goods include fly ash, dry oil cake, gypsum, stone, and natural gas, though there is a ban on the export of rice, wheat, and sugar. Over the past two weeks, 16 rakes have been dispatched from three Indian railway stations to Bangladesh. Of these, seven rakes carried dry oil cake, four transported fly ash, three were loaded with natural gas, and one rake each carried gypsum and stone.

Sources revealed that trade resumed after a 47-day halt, following discussions between high-level officials from both nations. On August 12, Bangladesh Railways had reached out to their Indian counterparts to restart both freight and passenger services.

India's exports to Bangladesh reached a record $14 billion in 2021, but decreased to $13.8 billion in 2022 and $11.3 billion in 2023. The recent developments in Bangladesh have impacted trade, though the country remains a crucial export market for India and its largest in South Asia.

(ET)