Import and export activities between Bangladesh and India through the Benapole land port will remain suspended for eight consecutive days, from October 17 to 24, due to Durga Puja holidays in both countries, raising concerns among traders about possible cargo congestion and shortages of industrial raw materials.
However, the movement of passport-holding passengers through the Benapole-Petrapole border crossing will continue as usual during the holiday period.
Badruzzaman Boni, general secretary of the Benapole Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) Agents Staff Association, said India’s Petrapole port would suspend import-export operations for five days from October 17 to 21.
On the Bangladesh side, trade will remain suspended from October 20 to 24 due to Durga Puja and the weekly holidays.
As a result, cross-border trade through the two ports will remain halted from October 17 to 24, with operations scheduled to resume on the morning of October 25.
However, customs and internal port activities at Benapole will continue as usual on October 18 and 19.
Benapole land port Acting Director Ruhul Amin said loading, unloading, cargo clearance and customs assessment would remain operational on those two days despite the suspension of cross-border trade.
Indian truck drivers will also be allowed to return to India with their empty vehicles after unloading goods at the port, he add.
Benapole, Bangladesh’s largest land port, is a major gateway for trade with India, handling hundreds of trucks carrying industrial raw materials, food products and other goods every day.
Traders fear the prolonged interruption could lead to shortages of raw materials for some industries and create congestion at ports on both sides of the border once operations resume.
Kartik Chakraborty, general secretary of the Petrapole Clearing Agents Staff Welfare Association, confirmed that import-export activities on the Indian side would remain suspended from October 17 to 21.
He said trade between the two countries was expected to resume on October 25. However, any hilsa shipments from Bangladesh during the holiday period would be cleared under special arrangements.
Meanwhile, Benapole Checkpost Immigration Police Officer-in-Charge Saifur Rahman said cross-border passenger movement would continue throughout the holiday period.
He said passenger numbers could increase during Durga Puja and that additional immigration personnel had been deployed to ensure safe and orderly travel.