First consignment of parcel van by train from India reaches Benapole port

The first two consignments of parcel van from India by train containing 450 metric tonnes of cement mortar reached the Benapole land port last night.

According to the Benapole port authority, the shipment imported by two traders left Kolkata yesterday afternoon and reached the Benapole port last night.

The goods, which are now being loaded on trucks, are supposed to leave for Dhaka this evening, reports our Benapole correspondent.

Traders said they are more interested to import goods by train instead of road, as it takes less time to reach and the transportation cost is also low.

"The importers are now able to import goods at a lower cost and quickly as new parcel vans have been included for transporting goods," said Abdul Latif, owner of Ratul International, C&F agent, on behalf of Inland World Logistics Parcel Van.

If the capacity of the port is increased, then import through parcel vans will increase rapidly, he said.

Matiar Rahman, director of India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said it takes 15 to 20 days to import a consignment of goods by road.

Mofizur Rahman Sazan, president of the Benapole C&F Agents Association, said if the goods are imported by rail, the parcel van will arrive at Benapole port from Kolkata in a day.