Call for ban on Bhutan-B’desh export; activist cites illegalities

TURA, Jan 21: Raising alarm over the issue of alleged “blatant violations and malpractices” in connection with the Bhutan-Bangladesh export transportation process, social activist from Tura, Cherian Momin, on Tuesday, urged the authorities to take immediate steps to stop the alleged illegalities.
“Based on evidence presented in the form of official documents accompanying the trucks engaged in these activities, it has become abundantly clear that the vehicles are carrying loads exceeding the permissible legal weight limits by a significant margin. Specifically, the trucks have been found to transport over 20 metric tons (MT) more than the allowable limit, reflecting an alarming 30-40% overloading in direct contravention of established regulations,” Momin claimed in a release.
Momin pointed out that the overloading not only violated legal guidelines but also represented a grave danger to public safety, besides putting undue stress on the already fragile infrastructure, including roads and bridges.
“It is alarming that these violations are occurring despite clear Supreme Court guidelines that mandate compliance with weight limits and other safety measures in cross-border transportation. The deliberate flouting of these rules raises serious questions about the accountability and oversight mechanisms governing these operations,” he stated.
Momin, while demanding an immediate halt to the transportation of goods between Bhutan and Bangladesh through Meghalaya, added that the suspension must remain in effect until both the Bhutanese and Bangladeshi governments provide written guarantees to the Meghalaya government, assuring compliance with all legal and safety standards.
“Alternatively, a high-level fact-finding mission should be launched to investigate the extent of these violations and to recommend corrective measures. Such an investigation should be transparent, impartial, and inclusive of all stakeholders, ensuring that the findings are credible and actionable,” he further added.