Hili customs officials said the meeting was held at 285/11 sub-pillar of Bashantipur village near the zero line, where Atiqur Rahman, assistant commissioner of Hili land port was also present. Deputy Commissioner Md Surut Zamana asked for reports from the clearing and forwarding agents associations, and exporters and importers associations of both Bangladesh and India.

After the submission of reports, a meeting will be held between the DC of Dinajpur and the district magistrate of South Dinajpur to resume trade through the land port.

Hili land port entered into the 8th day of its closure yesterday as exporters, importers, clearing and forwarding agents (C&F agents) of Bangladesh had enforced an indefinite strike from January 30 protesting a new rule imposed by the Indian exporters.

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. The new rule increases transportation cost for Bangladeshi traders as they used to load 20 tonnes in a truck.

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

Sources said several meetings between Bangladeshi and Indian traders were held in the last seven days but without any solution.

The strike, continuing for eight consecutive days at the land port, is costing the government Tk 80 lakh in revenue loss every day and at least 10 land port workers were rendered jobless.

Ganesh Saha, president of Importers and C&F Agents Association in Bangladesh told The Daily Star that he along with other importers and exporters are trying their 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 a counter programme by Indian traders and transport owners' association would damage harmonious bilateral business relations between the two countries.