The business hubs of Mechinagar, Birtamod, Bhadrapur, Damak and other markets have been shut down, affecting the local trade. [break]
The businessmen, who claim a day of banda costs the local economy around Rs 50 million, said the regular strikes have weakened the possibility of gradual industrialization of the district.
“Jhapa has great potential for business and agricultural production but the lengthy strikes stifle all those possibilities,” a central member of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Keshav Raj Pandey said.
The continuous strike has also hit the tourism sector with drastic decline in the number of tourists entering Nepal through Kakarbhitta. Police said a large number of tourists return to India everyday after coming to Kakarbhitta.
Unknown group shuts down far-west for two days
The far-west remained shut down for second straight day Saturday due to the banda called by a little known group by the name of Sanyukta Loktantrik Paribesh.
The Mahendranagar-Attariya section of the East West Highway bore a deserted look despite no obstruction along the highway.
The group had corresponded to different offices and associations in Mahendranagar three days ago to support the banda saying the Far-west Development Region shouldn´t be divided into federal states.
“We received a letter with instructions not to take out our vehicles. We complied in fear despite never having heard of the organization,” a member of the Mahakali-Seti Bus Entrepreneurs Association said.
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