Indian rupee demonetisation cuts number of Bangladeshis travelling through Benapole in half

Bangladeshis travelling to India have been suffering greatly following the demonetisation of rupees 500 and 1000 notes there.

Asaduzzaman Asadbdnews24.com
Published : 15 Nov 2016, 10:24 PM
Updated : 15 Nov 2016, 10:24 PM

The move has impacted the number of Bangladeshis travelling to India through Benapole, the largest land port.

Immigration officers have said many travellers are deferring their tours on hearing the news of sufferings over the demonetisation, while many others are going back without crossing the border.

The number of Bangladeshis travelling to India through the port has halved after the Indian government banned the rupees 500 and 1000 denominations.

Those returning from India are also complaining about the seemingly inexhaustible sufferings there due to the ban.

Almost all of them faced financial losses. Many had to return without completing treatment.

Benapole Checkpost Immigration OC Iqbal Ahmed told bdnews24.com on Tuesday: "Usually five to seven thousand people on an average travel through this way daily. Now the number has halved."

Customs officer Mohammad Shafiullah said travel tax collected at the port dropped below half of what had been collected before the ban.

According to government data, 3,000 Bangladeshis travel to India daily for treatment, trade, tour and other reasons. The number of those travelling to India are 1.1 million annually.

Despite allegations of troubles in getting visa, Bangladesh sends the second highest number of tourists to India.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Nov 8 announced the ban on the Rs 500 and 1000 notes, launching new Rs 2000 notes. He said the move aimed to prevent counterfeit currencies, undisclosed income and corruption.

Indians can, despite very long queues outside banks, change the Rs 500 and 1000 notes. But Bangladeshis, who have converted dollars to rupees, are in trouble.

Dhaka's Monisha Madal returned from India through Benapole on Tuesday. She said she suffered a great deal at buses, trains, hospitals, everywhere while trying to pay with the Rs 500 and 1000 notes.

"Women suffer the most. I had counted a huge loss while exchanging the notes. That's why I had to cut short my trip," she said.

Old Dhaka's Joydeb Pal said he could not even buy water with these notes.

Government hospitals in India are allowing the notes for now. But those who have gone to take treatment in private hospitals are facing hassles.

Moneychangers in Benapole and on the Indian side, Petrapole, are allegedly making a huge profit by paying Tk 600 for a Rs 1000 note and Tk 350 for a Rs 500 note.

HM Abul Bashar, director of Raja Badsha Moneychanger, and Akter Hossain, a representative of Trisha Moneychanger in Benapole, however, blamed 'illegal agents' at the borders.