Kathmandu, March 11:

About 150 cargo containers with export articles have been stranded at various parts of the country for a week, thanks to the general strike called by Madheshi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF) in the eastern Terai region.

Foreign trade has been hit the hardest due to the strike which has been going on for the last six consecutive days in eastern Terai, blocking the main customs points including Birgunj-Raxaul and Rani-Jogbani. These two customs points are those through which over 45 per cent of Nepal’s export-import activities are carried out. According to Namgyal Lama, president of Nepal Freight Forwarders’ Association (NEFFA), those stranded containers contain handicrafts, readymade garments and carpets to be exported to different third country markets.

“If these shipments are not reached on time to their said destinations, many manufacturers and exporters are sure to face a huge loss,” he said.

The ongoing strike that began on March 6 in eastern and mid-Terai regions of Nepal has not only troubled daily life but also brought about economic activities to a complete halt resulting in the closure of hundreds of industries, major customs points bordering to India, transportation and other related activities.

Lama informed that more than 200 containers with import goods and raw materials have been stuck at Haldia port in Kolkata, while about a dozen are stranded at Birgunj customs point and Biratnagar customs point has about 10 containers. “Not a single cargo train

has arrived from Kolkata to Birgunj dry port over the last one week,” he said.

Although the actual loss is yet to be calculated, Rabindra Man Singh, managing director

at Everest de Cargo, said that it could cross a couple of billion rupees in total, whereas

tension and mental pressure being experienced by exporters, freight forwarders, cargo agents, transport and shipping agents is incalculable.

Singh further added that many industries such as vegetable ghee, garments and carpets that rely on imported raw materials could shut down anytime since their stock of raw materials is finishing rapidly. If blockade of major customs points and cargo trucks are not allowed to transfer shipment for one more week, the Nepali economy could breakdown anytime, he said.

“One day’s blockade not only brings about problem to exporters or freight forwarders, but it also has a multiplier impact on the whole economy and also affects industrial production and domestic consumption,” Singh said.

He criticised that none of the political parties or government has taken any initiative to address the issue even though the economic sector is being made scapegoat of the unrest.