Import and export activities between Bangladesh and India through the Benapole land port remained suspended for second consecutive day on Wednesday. The import and export activities remained suspected on Tuesday morning as the Border Security Force (BSF) did not allow the C&F agents to enter India. As a result, thousands of goods-laden trucks remain stranded on both sides of the port.
Customs officials said that they are communicating with the Indian customs, and Port authority to resume the import-export activities as soon as possible. Kartik Chatterjee, general secretary of Indian Petrapole Port C&F Agent Staff Welfare Association, said that Bangladeshi C&F agents were obstructed by BSF when they entered the Petrapole custom office with the export documents on Tuesday morning. As a result, thousands of loaded trucks were waiting to enter Indian port.
Kartik Chandra, general secretary of C&F Agent Staff Welfare of Petrapole Land Port, said export and import activities remained suspended after BSF obstructed C&F agents when they were entering Petrapole with documents. Mafizur Rahman, president of C&F Association of Benapole Land Port, said that the BSF is not allowing C&F agents staff to enter India at Petrapole port.
However, the reason behind the BSF move was unclear. But the movement of passengers between the two countries and others activities of the port remained uninterrupted, he added. Uttam Chakma, assistant commissioner of the Carg branch of Benapole Customs House, said that they were trying to resolve the problem.
It is initially assumed that the reason could be American President Donald Trump’s India visit, for which security along the border has been tightened.
