October 20: Despite the festive season of Dashain, Birgunj city is experiencing an unusual lack of hustle and bustle. Traders in the city are currently facing a challenging situation, as they eagerly await customers.

The primary reason behind this downturn is the increasing number of customers crossing the border to Raxaul, a city in India, where they can find goods at lower prices.

Customers are drawn to Raxaul due to the more affordable prices, which stands in stark contrast to Birgunj where shopkeepers are burdened with customs duties that drive up the prices of goods.

This trend has raised concerns among Nepali retailers, particularly those dealing with clothing, food items, electronic, and electrical goods. Individual customers are now effortlessly importing these products from Raxaul, bypassing the higher customs costs they'd face in Birgunj.

Dipak Sharraf, a retailer, has expressed his concerns about the significant decline in transactions in Birgunj due to the high customs duties. He even cautioned that if this trend persists, many shops in Birgunj might be forced to close their doors.

Pankaj Rauniyar, a clothing trader, has noted a stark difference between this Dashain and the previous one, describing the current season as rather lackluster. Transaction activity has witnessed a sharp decline, leaving traders worried.

Bikash Kumar Agrawal, another retailer, revealed that purchases of appliances like refrigerators, TVs, and washing machines have plummeted by 70% compared to the previous festival season.

He suggested that the government should consider reforms in economic policies to revitalize the dwindling retail sector, which has been struggling.

Traders in Birgunj, a vital trade hub in the country, are calling for the government's urgent intervention to rejuvenate the economy, which has already suffered significant setbacks due to the impact of COVID-19. (RSS)