Revenue earning up in Hili Land Port

LALMONIRHAT, Jan 1: Despite a downtrend in import volume, revenue earning in Hili land port in Dinajpur district marked an increase by Tk 3.32 crore in the first five months of the current fiscal compared to the corresponding period of the last fiscal, reports UNB.

The port, the largest in northern region, earned over Tk 19.43 crore from July to November in 1999 as against Tk 16.11 crore during the same period of the previous year.

Official sources said in the last fiscal some 2,500 trucks, carrying 50,000 metric tons of rice, entered Bangladesh while 300 in the first five months.

Though the port is closer to Indian town of Shiliguri, a large number of trucks carrying orange, apple and other fruits, entered the country through Sona Maszid land port in Chapainawabganj and Burimari port of Lalmonirhat, the officials added.

The other goods, which were imported through the land port, included coal, gravel, fertilizer, spare parts, fish, fodder and sanitary materials.

Another official said local businessmen, C&F agents and customs authorities are going to take joint initiatives to raise the volume of import through the land port.