Import of onion and potato from India through the Hili land port remained suspended since Monday as the West Bengal government of India stopped slot booking for the exports of onion and potato on Sunday afternoon.
Indian traders require slot booking through an online system managed by the West Bengal government, where they pay a set of fees for export approval.
Since Sunday afternoon, the server for slot booking has been deactivated, preventing traders from booking slots for onions and potato exports.
Around 50-60 trucks carrying potatoes and onions are stuck inside India from Sunday to Monday, waiting to be exported to Bangladesh.
With exports suddenly halted without a prior notice, both Indian and Bangladeshi traders are facing significant financial losses.
A hike in prices of onions and potatoes in West Bengal reportedly prompted chief minister Mamata Banerjee to oppose the export of these goods, leading to the current situation.
The news of the export halt has affected prices at the Hili port. While wholesale onion prices have remained stable, potato prices have surged by Tk 8 to Tk 10 a kilogram.