NBR Shutdown Withdrawn, Trade and cargo operations resume at Benapole port

Trade Resumes at Benapole After NBR Shutdown Ends

Export-import activities and cargo handling at Benapole Land Port, the country’s largest land port, resumed in full swing on Monday morning after the NBR Reform Unity Council called off its shutdown programme.

Normalcy returned to the port area as nearly 4,000 handling workers rejoined work. Customs and port officials are now under pressure to clear the backlog of goods and expedite customs formalities.

Benapole Port Director Shamim Hossain confirmed that cross-border trade between Bangladesh and India had resumed.

Mohsin Milan, president of the Benapole Port Importers-Exporters Association, said the port had remained closed for the past two days due to the 'March to NBR' programme. Cargo delivery restarted early Monday following the strike's withdrawal on Sunday night.

Nearly 2,000 trucks from both countries had been stuck near the port during the shutdown, which reportedly cost the government around Tk 50 crore in lost revenue.

Rajan Hossain, Assistant Commissioner at Benapole Customs House, said customs operations resumed in the morning, and officials have been directed to work overtime to minimise the revenue shortfall.