The government of Bangladesh has launched an initiative to expand the Burimari Land Port, aiming to enhance services for passport holders and boost trade efficiency. This move involves the acquisition of 60.89 acres to develop the port’s infrastructure, signaling a significant step in its expansion. The local administration has already begun the land acquisition process for a project named ‘Expansion and Passenger Terminal Development of the Land Port’. Once completed, this project promises to transform the land port into a state-of-the-art facility. This initiative is part of the government’s strategy to increase export-import activities with neighboring countries, particularly India. It is anticipated that the expanded infrastructure will significantly elevate the port’s capabilities, facilitating increased trade between Bangladesh, India, and other neighboring nations. ‘Burimari Express’ to be inaugurated by PM on Dec 1 The port, currently spanning 11.15 acres, has been operating at full capacity since its inception. Its existing infrastructure includes an academic building, three digital weigh bridges, a fire hydrant system, a workers’ shed, storage sheds of various capacities, transhipment areas, and open yards. Deputy Commissioner of Burimari Customs, Abdul Alim, highlighted that the project’s completion will not only bring socio-economic benefits to the area but also generate employment opportunities, reducing challenges faced by passport holders and traders. Burimari land port shut for 6 days amid workers’ strike State Minister for Shipping, Khalid Mahmud, projected the establishment of a world-class land port in Lalmonirhat within three years. Additionally, Md Gias, assistant director of Burimari Port, emphasized the modernization’s role in streamlining passenger and port operations, which is expected to enhance revenue generation and combat irregularities and smuggling activities.

Importers are suspecting that onion price in the country may go up during Ramadan, as the government of Bangladesh has decided to not issue new permits for importing Indian onions after March 15 through the Hili land port -- to ensure local farmers get a fair price. “Large consignments of onions are being imported now through Hili land port to keep prices stable during Ramadan. But the government decided to not issue new onion import permits from India, which may make the onion market unstable,” Senior Vice President of Hili Land Port Import-Export Group Shahidul Islam said while speaking at a press conference on Monday (March 14, 2023) night.  Read More: Onion imports through Benapole resume after 2 months If onion imports stop after March 15, importers will suffer financially. Consumers also have to buy onions at higher prices during Ramadan, he added.  Mostafizur Rahman, general secretary of the organization, said that it is necessary to continue importing onions throughout the month of Ramadan and keep the prices stable.  Currently, imported onions are being sold at Tk 24 and domestic onions at Tk 26 per kg at retail level.  Read More: Magura onion farmers in tears as prices plummet

Sonamsjid land port authorities have taken additional cautionary measures to prevent the spread of Omicron BF.7, a new sub-variant of Covid-19. Following the instruction of the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) some additional measures have been taken to prevent the new sub-variant of Covid-19, said Dr. SM Mahmudur Rashid, civil surgeon of Chapainawabganj. Indian truck drivers and their helpers are being allowed to enter the country through the border after health screening, he added. Besides, the members of the medical teams are doing their routine works at the port, Rashid said. Earlier on Sunday, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) issued an alert at airports, land ports and seaports as the new sub-variant BF.7 of Omicron was detected in China and India. It also asked the authorities concerned to take steps so that people, coming from those countries, go through tests and digital thermal scanner and thermometer are used at the entry points of the country. Meanwhile, four returnees from China were sent to isolation after they tested positive for Covid-19 at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka Monday (December 26) afternoon.      

Despite having huge prospects, two land ports of Chuadanga district remain neglected for years following their upgrade from customs stations. Darshana Land Port and Daulatganj Land Port are situated in Damurhuda and Jibannagar upazila respectively, in the western part of the country.   According to the Bangladesh Land Port Authority, Darshana and Daulatganj land customs stations were declared land ports on January 12, 2002, and July 31, 2013, respectively, to facilitate import and export with the neighbouring country India. But these two land ports are still not operational several years later due to reluctance on the part of the authorities concerned. At present import-export activities are partially done through the Darshana customs station by railway. Goods transport is still a far cry from the land port.  Chuadanga district administration said the distance from Dhaka to Kolkata will be reduced by around 70 kilometres after the launching of these two land ports. These two land ports will also decrease the journey time with capital Dhaka by  2-3 hours compared to the Benapole Land Port. If distance and time decrease, businessmen will transport their goods through these two ports. So, it will be easier, faster, and cheaper to import goods from India through this port.     As a result, the government can earn more revenue compared to other land ports in the country.   Proponents claim it will be possible to unload at least 200 trucks of goods daily through Darshana and Daulatganj Land Ports. As a result, these two ports will decrease financial losses to the importers due to traffic chaos at Benapole port by releasing pressure on it. Yakub Hossain Malik, president of Chuadanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said if the two ports are made operational for trade, a new horizon will open in business in the district.  “Businessmen from all over the country will come here to import goods from India and change the financial scenario of Chuadanga,” he said. READ: Fake Covid-negative certificates from govt's screening booth at Darshana checkpost Darshana land port is located on the Darshana border. Gede border under Krishnanagar subdivision of India’s West Bengal is situated opposite the port. The route of this port is the Darshana-Gede railway link and road. The distance from Dhaka to Darshana land port is about 258 kilometres. This land port is well connected to Dhaka and other parts of the country by road and rail. So, once the port is launched, goods transportation will be easy through this port.   Bangladesh Land Port Authority Chairman Md Alamgir visited Darshana Land Port on March 22, this year. After visiting the port, he briefed journalists saying Darshana port will get its full-fledged shape within the next two years. His organisation will take necessary measures for land acquisition and infrastructural development of the port.      “Whenever we come here, we talk to the Indian land port authority. They want to know how much progress we have made to open the port. We received the approval letter of this port in 2004. Since then, we have closely been working taking opinions from both sides of India and Bangladesh,” he said.          On December 13, 2021, Indian Land Port Authority Chairman and Border Management Secretary N N Sinha visited the Darshana-Gede area. His Bangladesh counterpart had also visited the spot at the same time.  Later, a delegation led by National Board of Revenue (NBR) member Zakia Sultana studied the feasibility of 450 bighas land acquisition for the port. After completing the land acquisition process, all necessary port infrastructures including a truck terminal, rail yard shed, warehouse, and the residential area will be constructed. Aminul Islam Khan, the deputy commissioner of Chuadanga, said, “Darshana Land Port is under process. We will inform concerned ministries in black and white to complete the rest of the works of the port.” 

A recent decline of  onion import from India through Hili land port has raised the retail price to Tk 10-12 per kg and wholesale price to Tk 14-15 per in the market. Indian Nashik onion was being sold at Tk 44-46 which was being sold at Tk 35-36 per kg just two days ago, and Indore onion price rose to Tk 40 per kg from Tk 30-32 at retail market in Hili land port area on Saturday. Meanwhile the price of local onions hiked Tk 10 and is being sold at Tk 58-60 per Kg now. Also read: Drive to control commodity prices: Two onion traders fined As the onion import is lower than the demand in the market hence the price rose, said Moinul Sheikh and Ferdous Hossain, two traders of the market. However, they said the price may decline soon after the import goes back to normal. Last week 25-30 trucks of Onion had been imported from India but this week it declined to 18-20 trucks , said Sohrab Hossain Mallik, PRO of Panama Hili Port, a private operator of the land port . He said, “On Thursday 571 MT of onion entered from India in 21 trucks and the import remained uninterrupted on Saturday.” Also read: Man held with 8 gold bars in Hili Harun-Ur-Rashid, president of the importer-exporter group of the port said,” As import has declined and onion price in India has increased, currently the price is a bit high in the market. It will lower with the escalation of imports.”

The export-import activities through Burimari land port  in Lalmonirhat will remain suspended for six days from Wednesday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival of  the Muslims. Ruhul Amin Babul, president of the Burimari Land Port Importers and Exporters’ Association and chairman of Patgram Upazila Parishad, confirmed the matter on Tuesday morning. Read:Benapole Port to remain shut for 3 days According to Burimari Land Port sources, the announcement came from a joint meeting of Burimari Land Port Importers-Exporters Association and C&F Association. Trade activities through Burimari Land Port will remain suspended from May 12 to May 17. The land port activities will resume  on May 18. Burimari Land Port Immigration Police Officer Sub-Inspector (SI) Anwar Hossain said, "passengers with passports can cross the border from 9 am to 3 pm with the permission of the High Commission or NOC if there is no instruction to stop immigration." However, those who will return from India have to stay in official quarantine for 14 days.