Growing Trade Anticipated at Petrapole

The process of issuing Indian tourist visas for Bangladeshi citizens resumed on Sunday. After a long wait, this decision has brought a wave of relief to the Petrapole border area. Business circles involved in border trade are hopeful that if people's movement returns to normal, it will revive not only imports and exports but also various service sectors, including hotels, transport, and currency exchange centers.

Petrapole, one of Asia's busiest land ports, has long been a key gateway for India-Bangladesh trade. Fluctuations in the political and diplomatic relations between the two countries have a direct impact on this border. Local traders believe that the suspension of tourist visas for about two years had dealt a blow to business and commerce in the border area.

Kartik Chakraborty, Secretary of the Petrapole Clearing Agents Staff Welfare Association, said, "Since our new High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi took office, a new sense of hope has been growing among traders on both sides. The reintroduction of tourist visas will increase the number of people coming to India from Bangladesh. The easier the movement of people, the more commercial activities will grow. We are extremely happy with this decision."

Last Thursday, at a press conference in Dhaka, India's newly appointed High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi announced that tourist visas for Bangladeshis would resume from June 28. Since then, positive reactions have been seen among the business communities of both countries.

It may be noted that following political instability and a change of government in Bangladesh around mid-2024, some tensions had arisen in India-Bangladesh relations. Since that time, tourist visa services for Bangladeshis had been effectively suspended. This had affected the travel of many people coming to India for medical treatment, education, shopping, or tourism.

Trade statistics also highlight the importance of Petrapole. According to relevant sources, in the 2016–17 fiscal year, India-Bangladesh trade through the Petrapole border stood at approximately 18,000 crore taka. In the following years, that figure grew significantly, reaching 30,500 crore taka in the 2023–24 fiscal year. Port and business circles believe that with visa services now normalized, this trade volume could increase further in the coming days.

Local traders say the border is not just a hub for goods transport but also a vital bridge connecting the people of the two Bengals. Therefore, the decision to reinstate tourist visas is expected to give new momentum to the border area's economy while also strengthening ties between the people of both countries.