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Published : 21 Apr 2026, 12:33 PM
The Banglabandha Land Port in Panchagarh and the Burimari Land Port in Lalmonirhat have suspended commercial activities for four days due to the assembly elections in India’s West Bengal.
No import or export activity will take place at the two land ports from Tuesday to Friday.The decision was taken following instructions issued by the Election Commission of India and the chief electoral officer of West Bengal, said Abul Kalam Azad, officer-in-charge and manager of Banglabandha Land Port Limited.
While visa holders and Indian nationals will not be able to cross through Banglabandha, Burimari has issued separate instructions on passenger transit.
Kefayetullah Wares, officer-in-charge of Banglabandha Land Port Immigration, said that since all activities at Fulbari Immigration in India are closed, all activities at Banglabandha Land Port, including the movement of visa-holding passengers, are also suspended.
Burimari Land Port Police Immigration Sub-Inspector Saifur Rahman said that although regular travellers cannot cross at the port, those with emergency medical visas and Indian citizens will still be able to cross the border.
The Burimari Land Port C&F Agents Association said that they were informed about the closure through a letter signed by Shri Jitin Yadav, Cooch Behar district magistrate, India.
The first phase of the 18th West Bengal assembly elections is to be held on Apr 23, with the results due on May 4.
Under the circumstances, restrictions on the border and movement have been issued from Apr 21-23 under instructions from the Election Commission of India. The restriction have been imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS) Act, 2023.
Friday’s weekly holiday in Bangladesh will extend the closure through Apr 24. As a result, normal commercial activities of the port will resume from Saturday morning, after a four-day closure.
ASM Niaz Nahid, general secretary of the Burimari C&F Agents Association, said: "On the occasion of the Indian elections, the Changrabandha Port Authority and the district magistrate of that country informed us about the closure. We have informed all the concerned parties, including Customs, BGB and the port authorities through a letter."
