Export-import between Bangladesh and India through the Hili land port in Dinajpur district has been suspended on the occasion of Holi festival in India.

Shahinur Islam, general secretary of Customs Agents Association (C&F) at the land port confirmed the matter.

According to him, all activities at the land port remained suspended for Saturday due to a public holiday in India for celebrating the Holy festival.

The trade will resume on Sunday.

Authorities confirmed that, despite the halt in trade, the movement of passport-holding passengers through the Hili immigration check-post remained unaffected. Passenger traffic continued as usual on Saturday.

Sakhawat Hossain Shilpi, president of the Hili Port Import and Export Group, explained that the suspension of trade activities was in line with the decision made by Indian traders, who observe the Holi festival as a government holiday. 

The Hili Exporters and Customs Clearing Agents Association in India communicated the suspension of trade via a formal letter, leading to the temporary closure of all import and export operations.

Although import and export activities were paused, Shilpi noted that goods loading and unloading operations at the private Panama Hili Port warehouse on the Bangladeshi side would continue as normal.

Ariful Islam, Officer-in-Charge of the Hili Immigration Checkpost, clarified that the immigration checkpost operates independently of the two countries' trade activities. As such, passenger movement through the checkpost remained uninterrupted, despite the disruption to goods traffic. Import and export operations are expected to resume on Sunday, March 16, following the usual procedures.
 
BDST: 1247 HRS, MAR 15, 2025
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