Six-day halt at Benapole port causes Tk 600m revenue loss

A six-day suspension of export-import activities at Benapole land port caused a revenue collection shortfall of nearly Tk 600 million, customs sources said.

Trade transactions remained suspended from January 24 to 29 at Benapole following agitation by Petrapole clearing agents' staff welfare association across the border, said Benapole customs commissioner Belal Hossain Chowdhury.

He said that the revenue collection fell drastically, as a result. However, the shortfall could be partially covered as port activities resumed on January 30, he added.

A substantial quantity of perishable Indian goods comes through the port.

The Benapole customs house, on January 29, sent a report following an instruction by the customs intelligence wing, explaining the reason behind the revenue shortfall.

According to the report, a row between the Indian customs and, clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents at Petrapole caused the suspension of activities at the Benapole port.

The C&F agents' association suspended the activities amid allegations of harassment by the Indian customs authorities and complexities over issuing gate passes. They had also suspended the activities earlier on January 8.

From July last year to this January, the Benapole port faced similar setback on several occasions in the past due to disputes between the Petrapole customs and C&F agents, labour union or truck owners' association working at the Indian landport, Petrapole, said the report.