Import through Benapole declines

There has been a marked decline in import through Bangladesh's largest land port, Benapole, during the last financial year.
Stakeholders offer many reasons for this happening -- volatile political situation before the last national polls, a slowdown in business, bumper harvest last year, regular theft of goods, harassment by Customs officials, high bank interest rates for the slump.
In the 2013-14 fiscal, the import dropped by over 200,000 tonnes, according to a news agency.
Customs officials primarily blame political instability before the Jan 5 polls for the drop.
But traders say they are avoiding imports as business is not yet buoyant despite a stable political situation.
Jessore Chamber of Commerce (JCC) chief Mizanur Rahman Khan believes high bank interest rate is also playing a role in the decline of imports.
"Many importers have left Benapole for a number of reasons while others are importing less due to business slowdown," he said.
However, JCC director Humayun Kabir believes otherwise.
"A bumper harvest this year meant there was no need to import agricultural products. This is the reason for the drop in imports," he said.