133 truckloads of fruits imported thru Benapole land port after 2-day suspension

A total of 133 truckloads of fruits were imported into the country through Benapole land port after the traders resumed fruit imports on Thursday.

Prior to Thursday, fruit imports remained suspended for two days as importers went on a strike in protest against a hike in supplementary duty.

Assistant Commissioner of Benapole Customs House Md Shahadat Hossain said 70 trucks entered the port on Thursday while 63 more trucks arrived by 9:00pm on Saturday, reports UNB.

On January 9, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) issued a directive increasing the supplementary duty on fruit imports by 10 per cent, raising it to 30 per cent.

As a result, the duty per kilogram of fruit increased by Tk 15 to Tk 116, said Abdul Mannan, an importer.

Protesting the NBR's decision, Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers called a strike and the import through the port remained suspended on Tuesday and Wednesday.

They also threatened to go for tougher movement if the VAT is not withdrawn by February 14.

However, considering the consumers interest, the importers resumed the import of fruit on Thursday.

Mohsin Millon, president of the Benapole Import and Export Association, said the halt in fruit imports through Benapole land port over the past two days caused a significant price surge in the domestic market.

After the resumption of fruit import, the price of fruits started to drop on the local market.