By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The age-old ties of traditional trade and commerce between the people living along the international border in Mawsynram side of Meghalaya and Bangladesh on the other side had been snapped with the Partition of the country.
Some amount of trade between the citizens of both the countries in the border area had been transacting through ‘border haats’, but the current COVID-19 pandemic situation has led to the closure of these haats, creating economic problems for the residents.
Opening of more land custom stations along the border would be beneficial for people on both sides, Mawsynram MLA, HM Shangpliang, has maintained and asked the Union Government to open more such facilities.
Shangpliang said that the Union Government had opened a border haat in Dangar and another one at Ryngku is under construction.
“These small outlets have been of great help for the people along the bordering areas as people can sell their agricultural produces like broom, bay leaf, betel nuts, etc.” he said.
Pointing that the closure of the outlet due to the pandemic has caused economic hardships for the residents of the bordering areas, the MLA suggested that the central and state governments open more land custom stations along the border.
“If the Government opens more land custom stations, it would benefit the people of the state. It will also further boost trade and commerce between the two countries,” the MLA said.
If land custom stations are opened in the area, Meghalaya can import different minerals like coal and limestone and its products will find a way to the markets of Bangladesh. Meghalaya, too, will benefit with import of goods which are not available here.
At present, there are eight functional and two non-functional Land Custom Stations (LCS) in the state while Dalu and Dawki LCS are used for movement of passengers.