Import and export activities through Benapole land port will remain suspended for eight consecutive days from October 17 to 24 on the occasion of Durga Puja, disrupting goods trade between Bangladesh and India.

However, passport-holding passengers will be able to travel between the two countries as usual during the period.

Ruhul Amin, acting director of Benapole land port, confirmed the decision, saying the suspension was due to holidays at India’s Petrapole port for Durga Puja and public holidays in Bangladesh.

Import and export activities are scheduled to resume on the morning of October 25.

Alhaj Mohsin Millon, president of the Benapole Importers and Exporters Association, said goods transportation between the two countries would remain suspended from October 17 to 24 due to the festival holidays.

Around 500 trucks of goods are imported and exported through Benapole every day, while the government earns approximately Tk 20 crore in revenue daily from the port, he said.

As a result, the eight-day suspension could delay the collection of around Tk 160 crore in revenue, he added.

Meanwhile, traders fear congestion involving goods and vehicles at the port due to the prolonged suspension.

They said Benapole, one of the country's major land ports, handles imports of various goods, including industrial raw materials and food products. A significant portion of Bangladesh's land-based imports from India enters through this port.

A prolonged suspension could disrupt the supply of raw materials to industries and affect markets for imported goods, they said.

Kartik Chakraborty, general secretary of the Clearing Agents' Staff Welfare Association at India's Petrapole port, said trade activities there would remain suspended from October 17 to 21 due to government holidays for Durga Puja.

As Bangladesh will observe holidays from October 20 to 24, import and export activities between the two countries will remain suspended for eight consecutive days, he said. Trade is scheduled to resume on the morning of October 25.

Saifur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Benapole checkpost immigration police, said passenger movement through the Benapole international checkpost would remain normal despite the suspension of goods trade.

Acting port director Ruhul Amin said the port authorities had been informed of the holiday schedule by Indian customs authorities and clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents from both countries.

However, internal port operations and customs activities will remain normal on October 18 and 19, allowing previously imported goods to be released, he said.

Empty Indian trucks will also be allowed to return to their country after unloading goods, he added.

Ruhul Amin said normal import and export activities through the Benapole-Petrapole land port would resume on the morning of October 25.