Trade resumes at Akhaura Land Port as NBR officials withdraw shutdown

Trade activities at the Akhaura Land Port in Brahmanbaria resumed today after the protesting staff of the National Board of Revenue withdrew their complete shutdown programme, said Jahangir Alam, revenue officer at the port.

Since morning, trucks carrying various export goods began arriving at the port's truck yard, marking a return to normalcy. With trade operations back, traders expressed relief and optimism.

Due to the suspension yesterday, no goods were exported to India through the port, resulting in financial losses for businesses and a shortfall in government revenue.

Welcoming the decision to call off the protest, traders urged that such programmes spare ports in the future to safeguard the national economy.

Jahangir Alam said that three trucks carrying a total of 66 tonnes of flour and two pickup vans loaded with frozen fish had been prepared for export by noon.

"All necessary export procedures, including document verification and signatures, are being completed," he added.

He also said passenger movement through the port remained unaffected during the shutdown, as passport holders from both Bangladesh and India continued to cross the border as usual.

Akhaura is one of the country's major export-oriented land ports, through which goods worth Tk 1 crore to Tk 1.5 crore are exported to India daily, according to the port authority.