Rokonuzaman, Benapole
Increasing traffic congestion at Benapole port has started to have an adverse effect on the import trade. Imports have declined due to lack of space in port sheds. As a result, the authorities fear a big landslide in revenue collection this time as well.
At present, the import and export trade may be closed at any time due to the failure of the port authorities to provide storage space.
‘Right now, the port is handling about one lack ton goods more than its capacity and the traders are in tension for the delay in unloading goods in the port,’ said the officials.
However, the port authorities said that this situation has arisen due to the sudden increase in imports after the port was closed for a long time due to the corona pandemic. Ten days before and after Eid, goods arrived only from India. No goods were delivered from the port.
Due to government restrictions, monsoon and poor condition of ferries, many traders have not taken the delivery of their goods from the port, which has created a traffic jam.
Customs authorities have issued a public notice to auction off all shipments left at the port for months to reduce congestion. After the release of the public notice, many importers received the delivery of their goods, while others prayed for time.
Ali Hossain, general secretary of the Benapole Import-Export Association, said an influential group was deliberately blocking import goods trucks at the Indian port of Petrapole every day and extorting thousands of rupees in the name of demurrage. The traders were losing money because of extra payment.
Mofizur Rahman Sajon, president of the Benapole C&F Agents Association, said the import-export trade was being hampered due to lack of space at the Benapole port. The traders have repeatedly demanded for more space in the port but it has not been implemented yet. As there is no space in the port, 4,000 loaded trucks have been stuck in the Indian side day after day. The time has come to build warehouses and ICT privately.
Mamun Kabir Tarafdar, Deputy Director (Traffic) of Benapole Land Port, said that in the past, 400 to 500 trucks of goods were imported from India through Benapole Port. Because of Corona, that number has come down to 300. The Indian authorities are not able to send goods trucks from India to Bangladesh every day from 8 am.
He also said that the traders' complaints about the port’s space crisis and equipment shortages are true. Two large yards have already been built at a cost of Tk 6 crore to address these issues. This has increased product capacity. We have acquired 25 acres of land. Work is underway to acquire another 16 and half acres of land. Work on setting up a cargo vehicle terminal in Benapole port at a cost of Tk 269 crore will begin soon.
Azizur Rahman, Commissioner, Benapole Customs House, said that work at Benapole Customs House and the port is normal in compliance with hygiene rules. All officers and stakeholders have been instructed to unload the goods from the port expeditiously. Meetings with traders from both the countries have been held more than once to expedite the import-export trade.
