Drastic traffic through Benapole-Petrapole; bottleneck harming Bangladeshi importers
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Monday
February 06, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2023
Drastic traffic through Benapole-Petrapole; bottleneck harming Bangladeshi importers

Trade

Monowar Ahmed
04 November, 2021, 09:05 am
Last modified: 04 November, 2021, 12:40 pm

Related News

  • 1250MT sugar on 42 trucks from India stuck at Benapole for a month
  • Importers in a bind as sample goods pile on Ctg custom's lone chemist
  • Imports through Benapole port down 5.5 lakh tonnes in first half of FY23
  • Reconditioned vehicle importers demand easy registration procedures
  • Gold worth Tk 1.5 cr seized at Benapole

Drastic traffic through Benapole-Petrapole; bottleneck harming Bangladeshi importers

Every day around 300 – 350 trucks cross the port to India with export items. During the lockdown, there were only about 100 trucks. About the same number of trucks, 300 or so, come in from India with imports, which used to be around 150 trucks during the lockdown

Monowar Ahmed
04 November, 2021, 09:05 am
Last modified: 04 November, 2021, 12:40 pm
Photo: The Economic Times
Photo: The Economic Times

Highlights:

  • 8,000 freight trucks stuck in Petrapole
  • Cargo trucks stuck in Petrapole being fined Tk50 – Tk160 every day
  • 300 – 350 export trucks leaving for India from Benapole every day
  • 300 trucks carrying imported goods arriving in Benapole every day
  • Without the congestion, trade would have increased further

Trade traffic at the Benapole Land Port in Jashore has increased impressively since the lockdown ended. 

Every day around 300 – 350 trucks cross the port to India with export items. During the lockdown, there were only about 100 trucks. About the same number of trucks, 300 or so, come in from India with imports, which used to be around 150 trucks during the lockdown.

However, the increase in traffic has led to a congestion of cargo trucks, both at the Indian port of Petrapole and in Benapole. There have also been a few complications in Petrapole causing freight trucks carrying imports to get stuck on their way to Bangladesh. 

The Benapole port authorities say that without these complications, more cargo trucks could have arrived at the port, increasing trade volume.

Cargo clutter in Petrapole 

Mofizur Rahman Sajan, president, Benapole C&F Agents Association, said, at least 8,000 cargo trucks carrying imports are stuck in Bangaon municipality of India on their way to Bangladesh. 

"The trucks waiting in Bangaon to enter Bangladesh are being fined every day for parking. Depending on the size of the vehicle, the fine is anywhere from Tk50 – Tk160 a day, a cost and harmful burden for Bangladeshi traders," Sajan added.

Matiar Rahman, director, sub-committee, Indo-Bangla Chamber of Commerce, said the fines are most unusual. 

"The Bangladeshi importers are being forced to pay fines to the Bangaon municipal authority and the importers are being harmed in the process," he said. 

Neither Indian nor Bangladeshi traders have to pay such fines on the Bangladesh side at Benapole port, Matiar added.

Azizur Rahman, Benapole customs commissioner, said, even though the Indian High Commission has been contacted regarding congestion on the Petrapole end, there has not been any improvement or resolution of the issue. 

Kartik Chakraborty, general secretary, Petrapole C&F Agents' Staff Welfare Association, said cargo trucks are being taken to parking in Kalitala supposedly to maintain 'serial' or their place in line so to speak, under the command of the Bangaon municipal authority. 

"If this matter can be resolved, trucks can enter Bangladesh faster," he added.

Benapole at a glance 

Benapole Land Port is one of 23 land ports in the country. The port is some 84 kilometres away from India and a freight truck can reach Kolkata within just three hours from the port and it takes around the same time for a cargo truck from Kolkata to reach Benapole port.

Due to the transportation system being convenient, traders prefer this route for trading purposes. 

According to Benapole port sources, from FY2014 – 15 to FY2018 – 19, more than 18 lakh tons of goods were exported through the port. 

In FY2018 – 19, some four lakh tons of goods were exported, while in FY2019 – 20, more than three lakh tons of goods were exported. In FY2020 – 21, nearly three lakh tons of goods were exported.

At this port, the government every year earns about Tk2,000 – 2,500 crores from the export tariff, and around Tk8,000 crore from import tariff. 

About 50,000 people are directly and indirectly dependent on the port for their livelihood. 

The land port imports garments, industrial and pharmaceutical raw materials, capital equipment for industrial establishments, chemicals, and food grains, among other goods. The port exports jute and jute products, rice husks, fish, garments products, soap, and ceramic goods, among others.

Economy / Top News

Benapole / Benapole-Petrapole / Importers / trade traffic / Benapole Land Port

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • GDP growth drops to 7.1% in FY22, per capita income $2,793
    GDP growth drops to 7.1% in FY22, per capita income $2,793
  • Consumers should pay actual costs to get gas, electricity: PM
    Consumers should pay actual costs to get gas, electricity: PM
  • Sajjadur Rahman. Sketch: TBS
    Unilever CEO warns of tough 9-10 months ahead

MOST VIEWED

  • India to import goods from Bangladesh by rail
    India to import goods from Bangladesh by rail
  • File image
    India allows goods import from Bangladesh by rail, framework set
  • Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin/TBS
    Direct container shipping to the United Kingdom starts on Friday
  • Photo: Collected
    No barrier in wheat import from India: Tipu Munshi
  • Photo: Courtesy
    Ctg Chamber president slams edible oil hoarders
  • Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin/TBS
    NBR to allow more firms easy release of goods from ports

Related News

  • 1250MT sugar on 42 trucks from India stuck at Benapole for a month
  • Importers in a bind as sample goods pile on Ctg custom's lone chemist
  • Imports through Benapole port down 5.5 lakh tonnes in first half of FY23
  • Reconditioned vehicle importers demand easy registration procedures
  • Gold worth Tk 1.5 cr seized at Benapole

Features

Say it with Colours

Say it with Colours

22h | Mode
Photo: Courtesy

From 'Made in Bangladesh' to 'Designed in Bangladesh'

1d | Panorama
Google must adjust to a world where content is increasingly generated by AI. Photo: Bloomberg

Google will join the AI wars, pitting LaMDA against ChatGPT

21h | Panorama
The megaproject Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has a debt of Tk90,474 crore. Photo: Courtesy

Projects funded with debt need to be selected prudently, and implemented timely

22h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

ICB to withdraw Padma Bank Investment as return

ICB to withdraw Padma Bank Investment as return

15h | TBS Insight
Kiara Advani & Sidharth Malhotra's Wedding Update

Kiara Advani & Sidharth Malhotra's Wedding Update

15h | TBS Entertainment
What you probably didn't know about CR7

What you probably didn't know about CR7

12h | TBS SPORTS
US shoots down Chinese spy balloon

US shoots down Chinese spy balloon

13h | TBS World

Most Read

1
Leepu realised his love for cars from a young age and for the last 40 years, he has transformed, designed and customised hundreds of cars. Photo: Collected
Panorama

'I am not crazy about cars anymore': Nizamuddin Awlia Leepu

2
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo
Economy

IMF approves $4.7 billion loan for Bangladesh, calls for ambitious reforms

3
Belal Ahmed new acting chairman of SIBL
Banking

Belal Ahmed new acting chairman of SIBL

4
Fund cut as Dhaka's fast-track transit projects on slow spending lane
Infrastructure

Fund cut as Dhaka's fast-track transit projects on slow spending lane

5
Photo: Collected
Startups

ShopUp secures $30m debt financing to boost expansion, supply chain

6
Photo: Courtesy
Panorama

From 'Made in Bangladesh' to 'Designed in Bangladesh'

EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]