Around half a lakh people traveled between Bangladesh and India in the fiscal year 2022-23 through Bibi Bazar land portin Cumilla which is the highest since the inception of its operations.
At the same time, the import-export activities of the country have increasedthrough the port. As a result, the government has earned Taka 4 crore as revenue from the port this year. Port officials said the travel time is lessand the port has set a new record in passenger traffic due to its convenientlocation.
The land port started its operations in 2009, sources said, adding: "The portis eight kilometers away from Cumilla town. It takes just half an hour todrive from Cumilla. On the other hand, its distance from Agartala, capitaland the largest city of the Indian state of Tripura, is 61 km."
According to the Bibi Bazar land and customs station sources, Bibi Bazar isthe 13th land port of the country. Cement, coal, soft drinks, iron, stone,soap, plastic doors, PVC pipes, tins, plastic ropes, biscuits and brickbreakers have been exported through the land port while Agarbatti, maize,ginger, wheat, rice, cumin and various spices imported.
According to the information provided by the port, a total of 57,084 tonnesof commodities were exported through this port in 2018-2019 while 1,37,556tonnes of commodities were exported in the fiscal year 2020-2021.
Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate Officer KaziToihidaAkter saidpassenger traffic and import-export are higher during winter compared toother seasons of the year.