Rokonuzaman, Benapole
Port users' organization has suspended the entry of imported Indian goods through Benapole port from Wednesday morning in protest as India refused to accept Bangladeshi export goods.
As a result, hundreds of trucks loaded with goods waiting to enter Benapole Port are stranded at the Indian port of Petrapole. Port users including C&F Agent staff association declared to suspend import trade if Bangladeshi exports are not accepted by India.
500 trucks carrying export goods have been stuck in Benapole for the last three months. After a long three-month shutdown, import trade was resumed on June 7 through Benapole port, but export trade remained closed.
Although the Indian government and its traders have allowed Indian goods to enter Bangladesh, they have not allowed Bangladeshi export goods to enter India. Variety of export goods, including, garments and jute goods, as export trucks are parked in the area.
Alhaj Mofizur Rahman Sajon, president of the Benapole C&F Agents Association, said they were not accepting Bangladeshi export goods. For which the exporting traders have announced to stop the import trade from India.
No imported goods had entered Bangladesh from India since 9:30 on Wednesday. The exporters have to pay the large amount of truck demurrage as Bangladeshi export goods cannot enter India.
Shamimur Rahman, assistant revenue officer at Benapole Customs' cargo branch, said Bangladeshi traders had announced to suspend import trade as exports were not accepted by India. For which the import trade is closed from 9:30 am.
Kartik Chakraborty, general secretary of the C&F Agents Welfare Staff Association in the Indian port of Petrapole, said Bangladeshi exports were not being taken because of the corona virus.
If Bangladeshi traders think that they will not take imported goods because of this virus, then that is their business. We are not able to take export products from Bangladesh due to our restrictions.
Benapole Port Director Mamun Kabir Tarafdar said various organizations using Benapole port have stopped importing Indian goods since morning as Bangladeshi export goods were not accepted by India.
As a result, 500 trucks export goods are stuck in the Benapole port area waiting to go to India.
