United News of Bangladesh

Even after the arrival of 18,800 metric tonnes (MT) of rice from India via Benapole land port in the last four months, market prices remain high, causing hardship for consumers, particularly those from low-income groups.  Despite government efforts to stabilise the situation, the price surge continues to strain household budgets. The substantial quantity of rice was imported between 17 November and 13 March under the 2024-25 fiscal year through eight authorised importers, enjoying a duty-free facility.  The most recent consignment of 350 MT of rice entered the country through the port on 13 March. In an effort to stabilise the rice market and ensure food security, the government has permitted major rice importers to bring in rice from abroad. On 6 March, a notice signed by Mohammad Ariful Islam, Deputy Secretary to the Ministry of Food, extended the deadline for opening letters of credit (LCs) for the import of non-Basmati boiled rice and Atap rice until 15 April. Multiple Deadline Extensions According to Benapole customs sources, the government authorised 92 institutions across the country to import 273,000 MT of boiled rice and 119,000 MT of Atap rice.  But many importers have been unable to bring in their allocated quotas due to various challenges. The government has extended the import deadline multiple times due to the slow progress in import activities. Initially set for 15 January, the deadline has since been extended several times, with the latest extension allowing imports to continue until 15 April to ensure adequate supplies in the market. Govt approves import of 50,000 MT of rice from India Rising Prices Despite Increased Supply Despite continuous rice imports, market prices have remained high, with a noticeable surge in recent weeks.  Middle-income and low-income consumers are bearing the brunt of the price hike, despite the government’s efforts to stabilise the market. Rice trader Din Mohammad said that prices have increased by Tk 4-5 per kilogram since the start of Ramadan.  For instance, the 28 varieties of rice, previously sold at Tk 64 per kg, are now priced between Tk 68-69 per kg. Miniket rice, previously Tk 72 per kg, has risen to Tk 76, while coarse rice has increased from Tk 52 to Tk 56 per kg. Basmati rice, which was Tk 84 per kg, is now selling for Tk 88-90. "Indian rice is available for Tk 58 per kg, but its demand in the market remains low," he added. Din Mohammad also expressed doubts over the possibility of a price reduction during Ramadan, saying that despite continuous imports from India, market prices remain unaffected. Rice prices soar in Kushtia amid halt in milling Efforts for Efficient Distribution Shamim Hossain, Director of Traffic at the port, assured that trucks carrying imported rice from India receive swift clearance to facilitate rapid distribution to local markets. Mohammad Kamruzzaman, Commissioner of Benapole Customs House, highlighted the strategic importance of Benapole Land Port in expanding import-export trade. "Due to its proximity to Kolkata, the port enables businesses to save both time and costs in trade operations. With an efficient transportation network, goods cleared at the port can quickly reach various district markets across the country," he said. Despite these efforts, the struggle to stabilise the rice market continues, with consumers hoping for relief in the coming weeks.  

Revenue collection at the country’s largest land port, Benapole, has risen by more than 16 percent in the first six months of the current 2024-25 fiscal year, despite a decline in imports. According to sources at Benapole customs, while imports have slowed because of the ongoing global recession and reduced trade activity, revenue collection has remained robust. The revenue target for the land port this fiscal year has been set at Tk 6,705 crore, a Tk 757 crore increase compared to the Tk 5,948 crore target for the previous year. Fruit imports resume after two days of suspension at Benapole Although imports have decreased by 6% compared to the previous year, the customs house has reported a significant growth of 16.03% in revenue collection for the same period. Between July and December 2024, the port collected 3,225 crore taka in revenue, which accounts for nearly half of the annual target. Benapole Import-Export Association President Mohsin Milon said the global recession, along with rising dollar exchange rates, has caused a reduction in the number of Letters of Credit (LCs) issued by commercial banks in recent years. This, in turn, resulted in a revenue deficit at the start of the year. However, increased imports of high-tariff goods towards the end of the year have helped boost customs revenue. Import duty hike: Importers suspend fruit import through Benapole In addition, a Cargo Vehicle Terminal has been established at the zero line of Benapole port on 41 acres of land to facilitate easier trade between India and Bangladesh. This development has increased the land port’s capacity and created new opportunities for future trade expansion, which is expected to contribute significantly to the growth of imports and revenue. Importer Al Mamun said that due to the global recession and the dollar crisis, many businesses were unable to open LCs, which severely impacted imports through the port. However, the government's decision to increase tariffs on certain goods led to a rise in customs revenue. Benapole Customs House Commissioner Md Kamruzzaman said despite challenges such as political instability and liquidity shortages in banks, the increased value of the dollar and strategic measures taken by customs authorities have resulted in a 16.03% growth in revenue. He attributed this success to the collective efforts of all involved in the process.

Trade activities between Bangladesh and India through the Benapole Land Port remain suspended on Monday for the Victory Day celebration. The day is a public holiday in Bangladesh. However, passenger movement with valid passports continues as usual, confirmed Benapole Land Port’s Deputy Director, Rashedul Sajib Nazir. Bangladesh to celebrate Victory Day Monday recalling hard-earned freedom President of the Benapole Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) Agents Association, Alhaj Shamsur Rahman, said that the trade suspension was communicated verbally to the Petrapole C&F Agents Association on Sunday evening. Officer-in-Charge of Benapole International Checkpost Immigration Police, Imtiaz Bhuiyan, confirmed that while import-export activities are suspended, passport-holder travel between the two countries is proceeding without disruption. Deputy Director Rashedul Sajib Nazir further clarified that all customs and port operations are paused for the day. Normal trade activities, including import and export, are scheduled to resume from Tuesday morning (December 17). Chief Adviser and Timor-Leste President pay tribute to Freedom Fighters on Victory Day Deputy Director Rashedul Sajib Nazir said that all customs and port activities are closed due to the declaration of a public holiday. Import-export will resume from Tuesday morning, he added. 

Trade between Bangladesh and India through Benapole land port resumed on Monday morning after a two-day suspension. The trade remained suspended on Saturday and Sunday due to the inauguration of a new passenger terminal at India’s Petrapole land port by Indian Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday. Drug smugglers thrive at Benapole as scanners remain dysfunctional Shamsur Rahman, president of the Benapole C&F Agents Association, confirmed the reopening of trade activities saying that many trucks loaded with goods queued at Petrapole to enter Benapole after the two-day break. Officer-in-Charge Imtiaz Bhuiyan of Benapole Checkpost Immigration Police said although trade remained suspended passenger movement remained undisrupted .

Drug-peddling rackets have become increasingly active at the country’s largest land port in Benapole, taking advantage of three non-functional scanning machines due to the indifference of the authorities concerned. The recovery of Phensedyl bottles and other drugs has recently increased alarmingly at the port, exposing a fragile security measure there, sources said. Despite 375 CCTVs functioning in and around the port, vigilance by intelligence, Armed Police Battalion (APBn), Ansar and personnel of private security agency Prima, it seems that the drug peddling can’t be reined in. More alarming is the recurring issue of missing goods, attributed to the absence of adequate scanning machines, including one valued at Tk 5 crore. expensive scanner was used for scanning goods-laden trucks of Bangladesh and India.On Saturday last, Ansar members recovered 49 bottles of phensedyl after chasing some drug peddlers at gate No-5. Later, a case was filed accusing some unidentified people with Benapole port station. On July 2, 99 bottles of Phensedyl were recovered from imported Indian goods at the raw material yard. Read: Indian Minister’s visit: Trade through Benapole port suspended for 2 days Helaluzzaman, an Ansar official posted at the port, said their members recovered the 49 Phensedyl bottles after noticing the suspicious movement of some people surrounding a truck. Later, the drugs were handed over to the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC), he said. A few days ago, two fingerprint machines went missing from the office of the Deputy Traffic Manager. Members of Prima were suspected to be involved. Port sources held negligence by the authorities concerned responsible for the drug peddling, making it difficult to nab the culprits. Currently, 163 Ansar members, 42 APBn personnel, and 129 staff from the private security firm Prima are on duty, in addition to 375 installed CCTV cameras. Anowar Ali Anu, Vice President of the Benapole Importers-Exporters Association, said that smugglers collect drugs from Indian goods-laden trucks or borders and distribute them throughout the country. He mentioned that the peddlers use the port as a base for smuggling, often aided by some unscrupulous officials. Read more: Indian Minister’s visit: Decision on suspending trade for 3 days through Benapole port withdrawn Shamsur Rahman, President of the Clearing & Forwarding Agent Association, emphasised the need to make the scanning machines operational to combat drug smuggling and called for increased vigilance by law enforcement. Rashedul Sajib Nazir, Deputy Director of the port, said they have raised the issue of the idle scanner machines with the higher authorities.

Trade between Bangladesh and India through the Benapole land port will remain suspended for five days from October 9 due to Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of Hindus. Despite the suspension of import-export activities, the movement of passengers between the two countries will remain uninterrupted, said Rashedul Sajib Nazir, Deputy Director of Benapole Port on Monday. Government revenue evaded through fake travel tax at Benapole customs checkpost He said they received a formal letter from India regarding the closure. According to the notice, import and export activities will be halted from Wednesday to Sunday. Normal trade activities will resume on Monday, October 14.

Rice import through Benapole land port has resumed after 10 months. A consignment of 512 tons of rice entered the port Sunday afternoon, which was released from the port Monday morning. M/S Belal Hossain and M/S Lipu Enterprise are importing rice at the rate of USD 340 per ton. Benapole customs authority has fixed import duty on fine rice at USD 450 per ton and on coarse rice at USD 380 per ton. Importers are paying Tk9.90 as import duty for every kilogram of rice. Md Motiar Rahman, Director of India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce (IBCC), said that the government stopped importing rice from India on August 31, 2021 to ensure proper market prices of rice produced in the country. Read: Onion imports through Benapole resume after 2 months “Prices of rice shot up after recent floods in the country. The government allowed 95 importers to import 4.09 lakh mts of rice from India on June 30 to keep the rice market stable. Import of rice through the Benapole port began following  the decision,” said Motiar. Shamsur Rahman, President of Benapole C&F Agents Association, said that of the total amount of imported rice, boiled rice is 3,79,000 metric tonnes  and non-boiled rice is 30,000 metric tonnes. The food ministry has ordered to complete the LC-opening process within July 21 and marketing of the imported rice within August 11, said Shamsur. Azim Uddin, a C&F trader, said that the rice consignment had to wait 17 days in Indian part before getting access to Benapole land port. “Rice can be imported quickly if the consignments can get access to the port directly, which will in turn reduce the prices of rice in the local market,” said Azim.

Benapole Transport Agency Owners Association has called off their indefinite strike demanding adequate cranes and forklifts for the country's largest land port.  The decision to withdraw the strike scheduled to begin from Tuesday  was taken after assurance from the port authorities to fulfill the demands at a joint meeting, said Azim Uddin Gazi, general secretary of Benapole Transport Agency Owners Association. Also read: Benapole transport owners call indefinite strike from Tuesday “If the demands are not met within June 16, the association will announce stricter programmer  in this regard,” he said. Mamun Kabir Tarafdar, Deputy Director of Benapole Port said,” A decision has been taken to add three new cranes and three new forklifts within next 15 days. And within next two months all the old cranes and forklifts will be changed.” Also read: 8 held over clash at Benapole port, trade resumes Earlier, Nayan, a representative of the owners, said that almost all the cranes and forklifts at the port have become obsolete. As a result, they have to pay extra money to rent trucks every day which is causing huge losses, Nayan added.

Export-import activities between Bangladesh and India through Benapole land port resumed on Monday after two days of suspension following a strike called by several port users’ organizations. The protesters withdrew their indefinite strike, which was enforced on Saturday, after a fruitful meeting with the customs authorities. The workers of five port users’ organisations joined their work around 9 am on Monday. Read: 2 killed in separate city road accidents On March 2,  customs officials seized huge Indian contraband goods including phensidyl, explosives, cigarette, current nets, and cloths worth Tk 50 lakh from two Indian trucks. They also suspended the liscenses of two organizations including Shimul Trading Agency and IDS Group. A complaint was lodged with Benapole port in this connection. Protesting the customs officials’ move, five port users’ organisations went on an indefinite strike from Saturday and threatened to continue it until restoration of licenses of two C&F agents. Enamul Haque Lata, general secretary of Benapole C&F Agent Association, said the customs authorities assured us of meeting our demands within one week.  

The number of passport-holding passengers travelling to and from India through the Benapole land port has declined significantly for various reasons, including strict precautionary measures taken to contain the spread of the new variant of coronavirus Omicron. Bangladeshi passengers said an alarming spike in Covid cases in the neighbouring country, two times Covid test for passengers and hassles caused by brokers are the main reasons why the number of travellers is declining. Those who need to travel to India for medical, business and education purposes have been suffering a lot, they said. According to the port authorities, about 3000 passengers travelled through the land port per day on average last week, but the number of passport-holding passengers dropped to 1000 in the current week. On January 1, 375 people went to India while 709 returned from the country and on January 2, some people left the country through the port while 864 people returned home from the country. Read: All students to be vaccinated by Jan 31: Dipu Moni On January 3, the number of India-bound passengers was 491 while that of returnees was 611 and on January 4, some 442 people went to India and 639 returned. On January 5, the number of India-bound passengers was 481 while that of the returnees was 597. Port sources said some 18 lakh passengers travel to and from India for different purposes every year. On March 13, 2020, India imposed restrictions on travel due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, it allowed domestic flights from May, 2020, and the entry of foreigners except tourists from October. Abdul Jalil, deputy director (traffic) of Benapole port, said, “The number of passengers travelling to and from India and Bangladesh has dropped significantly. From January 1 to January 5, some 5,687 people traveled between the two countries.” Alarmed by the rising Omicron cases, India's federal government two weeks ago warned states that "the variant is three times more transmissible than the Delta" and directed them to take action to rein in its spread.