Burimari land port plagued by space shortage, tailbacks

The Burimari land port has long been suffering from space shortage and traffic congestion, preventing businesses from Bangladesh from elevating trade with India, Bhutan and Nepal as its capacity has not expanded in line with rising commerce.

The country's second-largest land port, located in Lalmonirhat district, has become an important route for the country's trade with India and Bhutan and has been playing a vital role for the development of the local economy.

But the barriers created by the space constraints and traffic congestion have not allowed it to reap its full potential since opening in 1988 and the launch of the full-fledged operations in 2010.

Ranjit Das, an Indian truck driver who brought imported goods to the port, says they have to stay in the open stackyard for two to four days as the goods are not unloaded on time.

"This causes traffic jam inside the yard. If the land port is expanded, many trucks will be able to wait there and it will not create any congestion."

Shamim Hossain, an importer and exporter, says trade through the port has expanded. But the capacity of the land port has not increased in keeping with the commerce growth.

"Traffic congestion is a major problem. Because of this, we can't unload products on time. It is a waste of time and money."

He urged the authorities to take steps to expand the capacity of the port to ensure the convenience of traders.

In 2015-2016, some 13.36 lakh tonnes of imported goods were brought in through the port. It rose to 46.13 lakh tonnes in FY21.

The land port authorities earned Tk 66.75 crore in 2020-2021, up from Tk 47.64 crore a year ago.

The customs authorities generated revenue of Tk 111 crore last fiscal year, doubling from Tk 57 crore in 2019-2020. The revenue collection is expected to increase in the current fiscal year.

At present, 450-500 trucks enter the port every day with imported goods from India and Bhutan, while 60-65 Bangladeshi trucks carry goods to India, according to the Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA).

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, 7,000-7,500 international passengers from Bangladesh, India, Bhutan and Nepal used the port every day to move to and from Bangladesh.

The port has three sheds with a combined capacity to hold 1,768 tonnes of goods and three open yards with a capacity of 6,203 tonnes.

Sayeduzzaman Saeed, president of the Burimari Land Port C&F Agents Association, says Indian businessmen are keen to expand business through the port.

"Only after the expansion of the land port is completed and the traffic congestion is eliminated, the interested traders will be able to do their business in full swing."

Ruhul Amin Babul, president of the importer-exporter group at the port and chairman of the Patgram Upazila Parishad, says the port has the potential to expand Bangladesh-India-Bhutan trade.

Traders are coming here to do business as goods can be brought in from India and Bhutan at a lower cost. "If the space crisis and traffic congestion are resolved, Burimari will become a commercial hub."

Babul says since the land port was established in 1988, it has been playing a significant role in the economic development of the region. Before the port was opened, poverty was high in the region. The situation has changed a lot in the last three decades.

Kefayet Ullah Majumder, deputy commissioner for customs at the port, says even throughout the pandemic period, the revenue earnings had far exceeded the target.

As it is an important port, the BLPA has taken initiatives to solve the problem facing the port, he said.

Ruhul Amin, assistant director of the BLPA at the port, says preparations have been made to acquire 23.86 acres of land to expand the capacity of the port.

Of the land, 20.35 acres are owned by the government and 3.51 acres are privately owned. The expansion work of the port, which is currently located on 11.15 acres of land, will start soon by acquiring the land.

Parking terminals for the trucks carrying imported and exported goods, empty truck terminals and passenger terminals will be constructed, he said.