Trade through Benapole port gets a boost
Trade between Bangladesh and India through the Benapole land port received a boost after the customs house of the port had started to remain open round the clock from August 1.
On the first day, exports and imports continued till 1am when 270 trucks brought in imported goods while 80 trucks carried exported items to the other side of the border.
There was almost no traffic congestion on Tuesday at the biggest land port of Bangladesh, helping goods-laden trucks get rid of 2 to 3 hours of daily tailback.
Customs and port officials worked in two shifts to speed up the clearance of goods at the port, and two separate mobile teams of the port and the customs patrolled the area all the time. The initiative also paid off, as revenue earnings reached Tk 12 crore on the day.
Benapole Customs House Commissioner Shawkat Hossain said customs officers were on duty throughout the night.
He hoped the revenue income would go up further in the days to come.
On July 19, the government decided to keep the Benapole and Chittagong ports operational for 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure quick movement of goods and reduce congestion.
The decision was taken following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's instruction to enable port users to run businesses at a reduced cost and time.
The Benapole land port area, however, faced security risks because of load-shedding from evening to 10pm, prompting businessmen to demand nonstop electricity supply.
The National Board of Revenue has, meanwhile, appointed 34 more officials to deal with the increased trade.
Motiar Rahman, chairman of the port sub-committee of the India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, welcomed the round the clock service at the port and the customs house.
He, however, said a fraction of the officials of the billing section are forcibly realising Tk 500 to Tk 700 from the port users as overtime charges after 5pm.
When contacted, Rejaul Hossen, deputy director of the port, said it is illegal to realise money in the name of overtime charges. “We will investigate the issue.”
The customs authorities of India also asked the authorities of Petrapole port to keep it open for 24 hours a day.
The Benapole-Petrapole route accounts for an estimated 60 percent of over $6 billion bilateral trade between the two countries.
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