Trade between Bangladesh and India through Benapole land port remained suspended Saturday due to an indefinite strike called by several port organizations. Mofizur Rahman Sajan, president of the Benapole C&F Agents Association, said the strike was called protesting various harassment by Benapole Customs including suspension of two Benapole C&F agents' license and withdrawal of harassment case. Following the harassment, a joint meeting of Benapole C&F Agents Association, C&F Staff Association and Transport Owners Association was held on Thursday morning demanding suspension of license of C&F agent and withdrawal of harassment case. He said a group of dishonest Indian truck drivers had long been smuggling illegal goods into the Benapole-Petrapole port through smuggling syndicates but the Benapole customs authorities released them, when they should have been detained. Moreover, the blame fell on the importer and the concerned C&F. Following this, the customs authorities have already temporarily suspended 10 C&F licenses which is totally unfair, Sajan added. Due to the strike, hundreds of cargo trucks, including perishable goods, have been stranded in the port areas of the two countries. To keep pace with trade, port users will be consulted, said Azizur Rahman, Commissioner of Benapole Customs.

Revenue for state coffers through Nakugaon, in the northern bordering district of Sherpur, has been badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with international trading activities at the land port still only a fraction of levels witnessed till late March.