Agartala/Shillong, May 25 (IANS): The reopening of five ‘Border Haats’—two in Tripura and three in Meghalaya—remains uncertain due to the ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh, according to officials.
These cross-border markets, located along the India-Bangladesh border, have largely remained closed since March 2020 following the COVID-19 outbreak. Although three haats in Meghalaya and one in South Tripura briefly reopened between 2022 and 2023, they were shut down again after violence erupted in Bangladesh last year.
The unrest intensified after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in August 2024. A senior official from Tripura’s Industries and Commerce Department said that despite several meetings between district-level officials from both countries, there has been no progress toward reopening the haats.
Each weekly market typically hosts 25 to 27 vendors, including women, from both India and Bangladesh, contributing significantly to local economies.
The first Border Haat was established in 2011 between Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district and Bangladesh’s Kurigram. Since then, several more have been launched across Meghalaya and Tripura. Prior to the recent instability, both governments had approved the setting up of 10 new haats—six in Meghalaya and four in Tripura.
Officials say the haats are crucial for boosting trade and supporting livelihoods in border villages across Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam, and Mizoram, which together share a 1,880-km border with Bangladesh.
