About 5,000 trucks loaded with various imported goods including garments' industry materials, raw materials for industries and foods are awaiting at Petrapole of India to enter into the Bangladeshi land port Benapole. Importers at Benapole port are facing to incur a huge loss due to the closure of activities of the port for Coronavirus situation.
It is learnt, Petrapole Port authorities suspended all sort of import and export related activities with Benapole land port from March-26 last. During that time, about 5,000 goods laden truck remained stranded at Petrapole seeking entry to Benapole port. The goods include raw materials for industries, garments' factory ingredients, chemicals, Oxygen gas and foods. The quality of those goods may be damaged if those goods are not released soon, apprehended the importers.
Imorter Idris Ali at Benapole Land port informed, his imported goods laden in four trucks remained stranded at Petrapole and he is counting a daily loss of Taka 2,000, i.e., a demurrhage of Taka 240,000 per month.
Mofizur Rahman Sajal, President of Benapole C&F Agents Association informed, loss of our businessmen will decreased if the Indian authorities allowed to enter our trucks with goods to Benapole. Otherwise, the importers will incur a huge loss.
Motiar Rahman, Director of India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry informed, though the central government of India has directed to continue export and import between two countries, the West Bengal government is not paying heed to the order.
Mamun Trafader, Deputy Director of Benapole Landport informed, Indian authorities had made a commitment to restart import-export as soon as possible but they did not maintain their words. He further informed, India made a Taka 40,000 crore annual through Benapole port and so far the government has incurred a Taka 700 crore loss in revenue during the Corona crisis.
Belal Hossain Chowdhury, Commissioner of Benapole Customs informed, the benapole customs remained open even after declaration of the government leave. Despite repeated pledges from the Indian authorities to reopen the port activities, the import and export through the port remained suspended.
