Benapole port goes into hibernation
Activities in the country's largest land port Benapole are set to face an eight-day halt straight through Eid, Durga Puja and weekly holidays.
Normal port activities will remain suspended for five days at a stretch, and with two workdays in between, it is assumed that not much will get done then. With a weekend pause, the port will be closed on account of Puja. So the port will virtually remain closed for eight days.
Several thousand goods-laden trucks are waiting in line at the Indian Petrapole port to enter Benapole in Bangladesh. These goods will now enter after the holidays.
Immediately after Eid, the Puja celebrations will kick off in full swing in India and import and export would remain suspended till September 28. Many industrial units may face raw material shortages due to the long holiday session.
Officials from the Indian side said no goods would be imported or exported during the time. Every day 300 to 350 trucks come from India, carrying raw materials for industries and different types of food items.
When the Customs House and the port will reopen after 5 days, goods will be stuck at the port. Work will resume from September 29, as many officials and employees of the customs and port will go to their village home during the holidays.
It is a general practice that even though the port reopens after Eid, many officials remain absent for several days.
The role of the Benapole port is significant in the country's economy, with 90 percent of goods imported from India coming through the port. Goods can be imported through the port with only 7 days' L/C. The distance between Kolkata and the Benapole check post is only 81 kilometres. So the importers prefer using the port.
Port users fear that import and export would face a negative impact.
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