Import, export suspended at Hili Land Port for three days for general election

Immigration services will remain closed only on polling day

Operations at Dinajpur’s Hili Land Port have been suspended for three days, with authorities announcing a halt to all import-export activities in view of the parliamentary polls.

Immigration services at the checkpost will remain closed only on polling day. Passport holders can travel normally on Wednesday and Friday.

The interim government has declared Wednesday and Thursday as general holidays for the election, with Friday as the weekly holiday.

Md Shahinur Islam Mondal, general secretary of the Hili Customs C&F Agents Association, said authorities informed Indian traders of the temporary suspension, who have agreed to the arrangement.

“All import and export activities through the port will remain suspended from Wednesday to Friday. Operations are expected to resume as usual from Saturday,” he added.

Hili Immigration Police chief Md Ariful Islam said the closure of immigration is limited to polling day. On other days, including government holidays, travellers holding valid passports and visas can cross between Bangladesh and India.

He noted that immigration services normally operate from 9am to 6:30pm.

MR Zaman Bandhan, revenue officer of Hili Customs Station, said loading and unloading of goods at the port warehouse have been halted.

With Friday being the weekly holiday, all port activities will remain closed for three consecutive days, he added.