Some 2,000 goods-laden trucks have been stuck at the Petrapole land port in India’s West Bengal for the past eight days due to suspension of export-import activities between the two countries after 6:30 pm, fearing closure of garments industries’ production owing to a lack of raw materials.
A terrible tailback of trucks has formed in Petrapole and Bongaon Kalitala Parking, incurring huge losses as Bangladeshi businesspeople have to provide 1,500 rupees for 10-wheel trucks and 1,000 rupees for six-wheel trucks per day.
The Indian land port users have suspended trade activities between Bangladesh and India after 6:30 pm for the past ten days.
As a result, 700 trucks were stranded at Petrapole Port while 1,500 were at Bangaon Kalitala parking.
Matiur Rahman, director of India Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce, said earlier some 400-500 goods-laden trucks were used for import through the Benapole land port every day while 200-300 goods-laden trucks were used for export.
The number has fallen to 200-300 and 50-100, respectively.
Most of the trucks were loaded with raw materials for garment industries and machineries, he said.
Shamsur Rahman, President of Benapole Customs Agents Association, said the export and import activities had gone down due to the suspension of internet services and ongoing curfew.
In the past week, a total of 335-370 imported goods-laden trucks came from India while 40-80 exported goods-laden trucks went from Bangladesh.
Rezaul Karim, director of Benapole land port, said different organisations at Petrapole port have decided to suspend the export-import activities after 6:30 pm after the announcement of curfew in Bangladesh.
“We are discussing with the manager of the Petrapole land port to resume the port activities for 24 hours like before,” he said.