Import and export will be closed in Benapole for four consecutive days during Durga Puja

The country's largest land port, Benapole, is falling into the trap of a four-day holiday on the occasion of the autumn Durga Puja of orthodox religions in India. During this time, the country's import-export trade with the Petrapol port of India will be closed. Due to Puja holidays many industries may face shortage of raw materials. However, goods clearance at Benapole Custom House and port and passport passenger movement between India and Bangladesh will remain normal during this holiday.

Karthik Chakraborty, general secretary of Petrapole Clearing Agents Staff Welfare Association of India, said that on the occasion of Durga Puja, all types of import-export trade with Benapole port will be closed from October 9 to October 12. From the morning of October 13, import-export trade will be started again on this route. However, the import of hilsa fish will continue under special arrangements.

General Secretary of Benapole C&F Agent Staff Association Sajedur Rahman confirmed the matter and said that import-export trade will be closed for four consecutive days through Petrapole-Benapole port due to Durga Puja holiday.

Rashedul Sajib Nazir, Deputy Director (Traffic) of Benapole Port said that due to the Durga Puja holiday, the customs authorities and C&F agents of the other side have informed us that the import and export between the two countries will be closed from October 9 to October 12. Even though the import-export is closed, the loading-unloading and customs work will continue at the port. After unloading the goods at the port, Indian empty trucks can return. Hilsa fish export will continue. He said that the import-export between the two countries will start again from the morning of October 13.

Benapole Checkpost Immigration Police Inspector (Investigation) Omar Farooq Majumder said that due to the Puja holiday, although the transportation of goods through the Benapole-Petrapole port is stopped, the movement of passport passengers with India will be normal. Passport passengers coming from India or going to India from Bangladesh can travel normally.

It should be noted that the role of Benapole port in the economy of the country is immense. Distance from Benapole to Kolkata is 84 km. For this reason, importers are more interested in importing this route. Every day, 300 to 350 trucks loaded with goods come from India through Benapole port. Apart from this, raw materials of industrial establishments as well as various food products come through this port. 90% of the goods imported from India come through Benapole port. Port users including businessmen fear that the impact of import and export will be stopped for four consecutive days.