In a letter to Bangladeshi Importers and C&F Agents Association, Indian Exporters and C&F Agents Association laid out the rule that Bangladeshi importers would not be allowed to carry more than 10 tonnes of goods on a single truck. This new rule increases the transportation cost for the Bangladeshi traders as they used to load 20 tonnes in a truck.

In response to the Bangladeshi traders' strike, their Indian counterparts issued an ultimatum threatening to paralyse greater south Dinajpur, if the authorities failed to resolve the matter within February 8.

Sources said several meetings between Bangladeshi and Indian traders were held during the previous two days but without any solutions. A meeting was going on yesterday at the time of filing of this report.

The strike, continuing for six consecutive days at Hili land port, is costing the government Tk 80 lakh of revenue loss every day and at least 10 land port workers go jobless.

Contacted, Ganesh Saha, president of Importers and C&F Agents Association, told The Daily Star that he along with other importers and exporters is trying his best to settle the matter.

Urging the authorities concerned to tackle the situation immediately, Shahinur Rahman, general secretary of Hili Importers and C&F Agents Association, said that the counter programme of Indian traders and transport owners' association would damage the harmonious bilateral business relations of the two countries.