Bridge collapse halts cross-border trade through Batuli

Import and export activities, along with passenger movement, have come to a halt through the Batuli Customs Station and Immigration Checkpost in Juri upazila of Moulvibazar after a Bailey bridge and its connecting road near the zero-line collapsed on Monday.

The bridge, which connects Bangladesh's Batuli Customs Station with Tripura's old Raghna Bazar Customs Station in India, gave way on Monday following heavy rains and a subsequent landslide on the Bangladesh side, officials said.

Locals said the Indian authorities had built the Bailey bridge over the hilly Raghnachhara stream several years ago, while the Bangladesh side paved the connecting road only last year.

After Sunday night's heavy downpour, a portion of the connecting road on the western (Bangladesh) end collapsed, which eventually caused that part of the bridge to cave in.

Authorities from both countries immediately closed the crossing.

At 4 pm yesterday, this correspondent saw barriers erected on both ends of the bridge, while parts of the connecting road had already washed away.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Mostafa Hossain, in charge of the Batuli Immigration Checkpost, said passenger movement through the route has been suspended indefinitely. The road and bridge collapsed due to heavy rain and landslides. Higher authorities have been informed.

The checkpost had only allowed Indian citizens to enter and exit Bangladesh, as Bangladeshi citizens are not permitted to use it due to the lack of visa facilities.

Locals said no goods were cleared through the Batuli Customs Station, and no officials were seen at the office.

Revenue Officer Suman Al Masud could not be reached despite repeated phone calls.

Clearing and forwarding agent Nazmul Alam Ahmed told The Daily Star that both countries have announced an indefinite suspension of trade through the route.

He added that the Bailey bridge had long been unstable, and a month ago Indian Assistant High Commissioner in Sylhet Chandra Shekhar had been urged to replace it.

India has already begun constructing a new bridge near the collapsed one, locals confirmed.

However, traders have urged the government to take urgent steps to repair the damaged road and bridge to restore cross-border trade at Batuli, Ahmed added.