Around 6,000 trucks loaded with goods are waiting in Petrapole Kalitala parking of India to cross into Benapole Port, on the other side of the Benapole border on Monday morning.
While the loaded trucks have been stranded, trade between the two countries has been greatly affected. It has already had a major impact on revenue collection. This trade stoppages between the two countries are becoming increasingly frequent, caused by various complications that are being deliberately stoked. Millions of Extortion money are collected from the trucks every day in the Kalitola Parking.
Other traders, including importers and C&F agents, have reduced imports through Benapole land port due to long delays in importing goods.
Trade with India through this port is worth Tk 30,000 crore every year. Benapole Customs House directly and indirectly earns revenue of Tk 10,000 crore per fiscal year. Seven to eight hundred truckloads of goods are imported from India every day through Benapole port. At present, the number is down to 200-300. Indian Bangaon Municipality created a privately owned park called Kalitala Parking and forces the trucks to enter the park. Rs2,000 is being taken from each truck illegally Every day. Traders said that at present it takes 30 to 50 days for a truck to be imported to Bangladesh. All the subscription money has to be paid by the Bangladeshi importers. For these huge additional costs turning away from Benapole port. Benapole Customs Commissioner Azizur Rahman held a meeting with Indian customs, port, and traders to increase the number of imported trucks and increase revenue on yesterday.
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Matiar Rahman, director of the India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce, said a strong syndicate has been formed at the Indian port of Petrapole and Kalitola Parking on the other side of Benapole port to import goods by land.
They are collecting Rs 2,000 per day from each truck. If a truck loaded with goods is stuck on the other side for 35 days, he has to pay Rs.70,000. As a result, the importers are suffering huge financial losses.
Mofizur Rahman Sazan, president of the Benapole Custom C & F agents Association, said 80 % of raw materials the country's industrial establishments and Garments Industries as well as various food items through the port. Delays in importing goods are having an impact on many industries. Besides, it is also having an impact on revenue collection.
Benapole Customs Commissioner Azizur Rahman said, "We are holding regular meetings with Indian customs, port and traders to increase revenue and increase the Import Export activities. At present, about 6,000 trucks are stuck in the Kalitala parking lot of Indian Petrapole Port. As a result, the revenue income has decreased a lot.