Import trade between India and Bangladesh through the Benapole-Petrapole port has stopped over a gate-pass complication. Import trade has been halted since Saturday because members of the Benapole C&F Agent Staff Association are not issuing gate passes. Because of the halt, hundreds of goods-laden trucks have been stranded at India’s Petrapole port. Most of the goods are raw materials for Bangladesh’s fully export-oriented garment industry.
C&F agents’ members halted import trade from Saturday morning, July 25.
The revenue officer of the customs cargo branch of the Benapole checkpost, Shafiqul Islam, confirmed the information.
The general secretary of the Benapole C&F Agent Staff Association, Badruzzaman Boni, said: “All this time we have been receiving Indian goods-laden trucks by issuing the car pass (gate pass) without taking responsibility for any illegal goods. Yesterday, Saturday, the customs authorities suddenly issued an instruction that the staff of each C&F agent must take responsibility when receiving Indian goods-laden trucks. If there are any illegal goods in the truck, the C&F representative will have to bear the responsibility. The customs authorities will take no responsibility for this. On condition of not taking such responsibility, we on the C&F side are not issuing any gate pass. That is why import trade has stopped.”
The general secretary of the Benapole Importers’ Association, Ziaur Rahman Zia, said: “Indian traders export goods to Bangladesh. They know best what is inside the goods. If Indian truck drivers pick up any illegal goods on the way, no C&F agent or staff member can take responsibility for that. Because of this kind of decision by customs, import trade through Benapole port has stopped.”
The director of Benapole port, Shamim Hossain, said import trade between Benapole and Petrapole ports has been halted since Saturday because of the gate-pass complication. Exports and passenger movement through the checkpost, however, remain normal.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report