Bangaon and Petrapole Syndicate: Bangladesh’s revenue collapses

Due to mismanagement and irregularities by the syndicate at Bangaon and Petrapole land ports in India, Bangladeshi cargo trucks have to wait for more than 20 days to enter Petrapole. This unreasonable delay has become a new concern for importers. Despite many efforts, the traders were not released from this syndicate. However, the port authorities have always said that they are trying to resolve the issue.

At present, more than 5,000 trucks are waiting to enter Benapole, the country’s largest land port. These trucks are stuck in the Indian port of Petrapole with imported goods. As a result, the two countries’ import-export trade and revenue have begun to be severely affected.

It has been alleged that in the case of import and export of goods through Benapole port, the whims of the mayor of Bangaon municipality of India, including sniffing at import and export, have left the goods trucks in the parking lot of Kalitala demanding import-export between the two countries. And because of this, there has been a big collapse in revenue collection.

According to sources close to the Benapole port, trade with India is at least Tk 24,000 crore every year through this port. Benapole Customs House directly and indirectly earns revenue of Tk 10,000 crore annually. The port usually used to import 700 to 800 trucks of goods from India every day. At present this number stands at 300 to 400 trucks.

Sunbd/NJ