Revenue at the Bhomra land port in Satkhira fell more than Tk 950 crore short of its target in the just-ended 2025-26 financial year. Against a target of Tk 2,064 crore, collection during the period stood at Tk 1,114 crore. Those concerned said, however, that this was Tk 134 crore more revenue than in the 2024-25 financial year. Traders at the Bhomra land port say the government is not getting its desired revenue because of obstacles to importing goods as demanded and a lack of infrastructure development.
According to the revenue branch of the Bhomra Custom House, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) set a revenue-collection target of Tk 2,064.89 crore for the port in 2025-26. Against that, Tk 1,114.16 crore was collected, which is Tk 950.73 crore below the target. In 2024-25, the target was Tk 946.23 crore, against which Tk 979.35 crore was collected — Tk 33.12 crore above target.
Abu Musa, general secretary of the port’s C&F Agents’ Association, said business at the Bhomra land port had been in a slump in the outgoing financial year. “Most traders are running at a loss. There is also discrimination in importing goods at Bhomra port; even with approval, traders cannot import many goods here, whereas all kinds of goods can be brought in at the neighbouring port. As a result, traders are losing interest in using this port,” he said. Nasim Faruk Khan, president of the Satkhira Chamber of Commerce and Industries, told Bonik Barta that one of the main reasons for the revenue shortfall was that Bhomra port traders had fallen into unequal competition. “Traders are running at a loss importing most Indian agricultural goods, the main reason being a fall in prices; goods are selling in Bangladesh at lower prices than the value at Indian markets, so to avoid losses traders are stopping imports,” he said, adding that government revenue could increase several times over if the port’s infrastructure were developed and high-capacity heavy cranes, yards, warehouses and other advanced technology installed.
Mushfiqur Rahman, the commissioner in charge of the Bhomra Custom House, told Bonik Barta: “In 2024-25, 20,82,722 tonnes of goods were imported through this port, while in the outgoing financial year it was 19,73,047 tonnes, which is 1,09,675 tonnes less than the previous year. Even with fewer goods imported, Tk 134 crore more revenue was collected in 2025-26 than in the previous financial year.” He said revenue collection at any port depended mainly on the import and export of goods, and that the customs authorities were working to improve the quality of service to traders.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report