Trade between India and Bangladesh came to a standstill this afternoon as large-scale protests in Bangladesh led to the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday, traders reported. On Sunday, the Bangladesh government declared a three-day trade holiday, excluding essential services, via a notification. Ujjal Saha, secretary of the West Bengal Exporters Coordination Committee, stated that stalled activities at land ports were due to a lack of clearance from Bangladeshi customs. “There was some movement in the morning, but later it stopped,” he revealed. Trade disruptions were triggered by violent protests against the Sheikh Hasina government over the past two days. Although several reports suggested Hasina had left the country, official confirmation was absent. According to Saha, “The Bangladesh government has called for a three-day total holiday, except for essential services, leading to the closure of Bangladeshi borders for business.”
