Covid-19: Trading resumes at Benapole port after 2 months
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Activities at Benapole were suspended on March 22 due to the Covid-19 outbreak
Import and export activities resumed at Benapole port on Saturday after 8 weeks and 15 days, with goods dispatched from India's Petrapole port.
A meeting to resume trade activities happened in this regard at the zero point area near to the border, where traders and officials from both countries’ ports were present and decided on the measure.
Activities at Benapole were suspended on March 22 because of the Covid-19 outbreak, but the decision was designed to resume business activities amid the coronavirus crisis as exporters and importers in both countries have been incurring heavy losses.
Sources said the central Indian government in Delhi had sent several letters to the federal government of West Bengal to resume trade between India and Bangladesh through Petrapole and other ports, however the West Bengal government had declined to take action.
Traders from Benapole also sent letters repeatedly to the state authorities in Kolkata to reconsider the suspension of activities, however in vain.
The recent decision was in light of powerful lobbying from the truck owners association and staff association of Petrapole port.
But as a result of coronavirus pandemic, the fitness of drivers will be checked on both sides of the border, while all trucks and the surface of the products carried may also be sanitized in both the ports.
Mafizur Rahman Sajan, president of Benapole C&F Agents Association, said port activities had opted down to zero previously 8 weeks and 15 days.
"Within the agreement, our Indian counterparts decided to send 50 goods-laden trucks to and from Bangladesh," he added.
Mamun Kabir Tarafder, deputy director (traffic) at Benapole land port, said a variety of health guidelines will be ensured to keep import and export activities stable, while extra measures will also be taken in order that Indian drivers cannot steer beyond your port area at any point.
Source: https://www.dhakatribune.com
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