Export-import activities between Bangladesh and India through Benapole land port remained suspended for the second consecutive day on Monday (February 1).
The strike was called by the Indian Petrapole Bandor Jibon Jibika Bachao Committee to press home their five-point demand, including an end to harassment by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF).
Despite the closure of import-export trade, the passage of passport holders between the two countries was normal. Delivery of goods including unloading of goods at the port was also normal.
Hundreds of trucks carrying goods have waiting Indian side to entering the Benapole port of the two countries due to the suspension of import-export trade. As a result, traders have suffered huge losses.
Stuck products include export-oriented jute and jute products, fish, industrial raw materials, ready-made garments, machineries and various food items.
Every day more than 500 different types of goods trucks imported from India and 250 trucks of goods are exported to India through Benapole port.
Karthik Chandra, general secretary of the Petrapole C&F Agent Staff Association of India, said several rounds of meetings were being held with administrative officials, including the BSF, on Sunday and Monday to launch import-trade activities.
Indian C&F staff members and truck workers have been arriving and departing at Benapole port with the necessary documents for a long time but the BSF at the border recently stopped their travel for security reasons.
Moreover, the truck is being searched for a long time without any specific allegation from the BSF.
Despite repeated requests to the BSF to resolve these issues, the organisation was forced to go on strike.
Mofizur Rahman Sajan, president of the Benapole C&F Agents Association, said Indian workers had stopped importing and exporting goods between the two countries, but delivery of goods at the Benapole port was proceeding normally.
Every day the government is being earned of revenue income of Tk 20 crore.
Azizur Rahman, commissioner of Benapole Customs House, said trade with India remained suspended through Benapole port from two days. Benapole Customs House has collected a daily revenue of Tk 1,700 crore.
The National Board of Revenue has set a revenue target of Tk 5,500 crore for the current financial year.