Benapole
8 held over clash at Benapole port, trade resumes
Trade at Benapole land port resumed on Tuesday morning after around 24 hours of suspension following a clashe between two groups over taking control of the port’s contracting job.
Import-export activities and loading and unloading of goods resumed 10 am again and 50 trucks entered the land port from India with imported goods until 11 pm, said Abdul Jalil, Deputy Director (traffic) of Benapole land port.
Read: Dozens injured in bomb attack in Benapole port, trade halted
Meanwhile, a case was filed against 36 people in connection with the clashe and eight people were arrested, said Kamal Hossain Bhuiyan, officer-in-charge of Benapole port police station.
23 trafficked Bangladeshis return from India through Benapole
Twenty-three Bangladeshi women and children returned home through the Benapole checkpost on Tuesday.
The returnees comprising 14 women and nine children belong to Khulna, Narail, Jashore, Bagerhat, Pabna, Noakhali and Cox's Bazar districts, were trafficked to India at different times.
They returned home with a special travel permit issued by Kolkata Travel on coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, and the Special Task Force on Prevention of Trafficking in Women and Children in West Bengal, according to a press release from the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata.
Read: 114 Bangladeshis return from Libya
Many Bangladeshi women and children got stranded in different safe homes after being trafficked or entering India’s West Bengal illegally or mistakenly. The Directorate of Child Rights and Trafficking of West Bengal informed the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata about these stranded women and children.
This is the fifth repatriation process on a large scale after the repatriation of 38 women and children on January 25 last year, 37 people on September 20, 20 people on October 8 and 21 women and children on January 7 this year.
A special delegation from the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh handed over 23 women and children to the local district administration and local police administration in Benapole.
Benapole: Covid-negative certificates not needed for vaccinated India returnees
The passengers returning from India who received two doses of government approved Covid-19 vaccines or one dose of Johnson and Johnson vaccine will not need to provide covid-negative certificates while entering Bangladesh.
Raju Ahmed, Officer-in-Charge of Benapole immigration check post said the new rule has become effective from Monday.
Also read: Fake Covid-negative certificates from govt's screening booth at Darshana checkpost
Dr Yusub Ali, in-charge of Sharsha upazila health complex said, “We received a letter in this regard from the authority on Sunday.”
“The mandate of the RT-PCR test conducted before 72 hours of entering the Bangladesh border will not be applicable for those who received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. But it will remain applicable for others” said OC Raju Ahmed.
Also read: Vaccine certificate must for getting DNCC services: Atiq
According to the health division of the immigration the passengers headed for India receiving a third Covid-19 jab or booster dose will not need to provide negative certificates.
But it will be mandatory to stay in isolation and get tested for those who have symptoms of the virus.
Revenue declined by Tk 26.75 cr due to covid restrictions on Benapole port
Travel sector revenues decreased by about Tk 26.75 crore in 2021 through Benapole Land Port as the Omicron surge had reduced passenger traffic between Bangladesh and India.
In 2021, only 1,63,974 went to India through Benapole whereas 6,99,107 people traveled to India in 2020. As a result, the passenger traffic on this route has decreased by 5,35, 133 passengers in 2021 as compared to 2020.
About 18 to 20 lakh passengers travel to India every year on medical, business, education and travel visas through Benapole International Checkpost due to the ease of communication.
READ: Benapole customs report growth in revenue despite pandemic
Md Raju, officer-in-charge of Benapole Immigration, said 8,000 to 10,000 passengers used to travel through this route every day before the pandemic. Currently, passenger traffic has been reduced due to restrictions.
The Covid Negative Certificate through the RT-PCR test within 72 hours is needed for returning to and from India.
The government earns about Tk 6,000 crore from the trade sector while the government's revenue from the travel sector is about Tk 100 crore.
On March 13, 2020, India imposed restrictions on travel due to the Covid-19 pandemic and suspended trade through land ports on March 26. However, it allowed domestic flights from May, 2020, and the entry of foreigners except tourists from October.
Later, when the situation became somewhat normal, after four months, the ban on trade through Benapole port was lifted and trade gradually became normal. But, travel on tourist visas is still closed.
Ayub Hossain, a passenger returning to India, said, "We cannot rely on medical services. Most physicians cannot diagnose the disease."
If the medical system improves in the country, they would not have to go to India risking their lives during the covid pandemic. As a result, the country's money would remain in the country, he said.
Passengers coming from India on business visas said that they are applying for visas by road but they are getting visas by air at present. Again, those who have road visas before are also being barred from traveling by Indian immigration on various pretexts.
"Although it is very urgent, I cannot go to India as I need," the passenger added.
Benapole Immigration's Health Department Monitoring Officer Dr Mejbaul Hasan said the India returnees were being tested for rapid antigen to prevent covid infection.
READ: Export-Import through Benapole land port suspended
In the last two months, after testing the samples of 140 people, nine people have tested positive.
The infected were tested positive in India. The covid patients were kept in the red zone of Corona Unit of Jashore Sadar Hospital, the officer added.
Abdul Jalil, deputy director (Traffic) of Benapole Port, said the import-export between the two countries is slowly getting stable amid this pandemic. However, due to the ban on travel, passenger traffic has decreased.
2 held with gold bars worth Tk 2.5 cr at Benapole
Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained two people along with 20 gold bars from the Putkhali border at Balunda village in Benapole port area on Monday.
The detainees were identified as Liton Hossain, 25, son of Ali Hossain and Hafizur Rahman, 28, son of Azizur Rahman of the village.
Also read: 2 held with 20 gold bars along Jashore border
Tipped off, a team of BGB-21 conducted a drive in the area and detained two people along with the gold bars, weighing 3.89 kgs, said commanding officer of BGB-21, Lieutenant Colonel Manjur-e-Elahi.
The market value of the gold bars is Tk 2.5 crore.
They were handed over to Benapole Port Police.
Also read: Gold import policy fails to stop smuggling, tax evasion: NBR Chairman
9 wanted criminals held in Benapole
Police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested nine wanted criminals from the Benapole port area of Jashore district.
The arrestees have been identified as Russel, 35, Anwar Hossain, 38, Abdul Kurban Ali, 34, Mahidul Islam, 30, Enamul Hasan, 28, Rahmat Ali, 32, Abul Bashar, 43, Shafiqul Islam, 37, and Nazim Uddin, 29.
READ: 30-year-old rapes schoolgirl in Magura, held
“Warrants of arrest were issued against the arrestees in different criminal cases,” said Kamal Hossain Bhuiya, officer-in-charge of Benapole Port Police Station.
They remained absconding for a long time, he said.
Benapole Customs falls short of its revenue target again
Benapole Customs House has fallen short of its targeted revenue by Tk509 crore in the first six months of the current 2021-22 fiscal as the customs house collected about Tk1,991 crore against a target of Tk2,500 crore.
However, Tk101 crore more was collected this time than the first six months of 2019-20 fiscal year. At that time the revenue collection target was Tk 1,889 crore.
In the first six months of this year, 11,53,034 metric tonnes of goods have been imported which was 11,53,034 metric tonnes in the first six months of 2019-20 fiscal year. Besides, 2,76,003 metric tonnes have been exported this time which was 1,76,296 metric tonnes in the first half of 2019-20.
Although imports have declined slightly compared to last year, exports have increased.
According to Benapole Customs sources, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has set a revenue target of Tk 6,245 crore for imported goods this year. Earlier, in the fiscal year 2020-21, the revenue target at Benapole port was Tk 6,244.62 crore. At the end of last fiscal year, Tk 4,143 crore was collected. Although the growth of revenue during the year was higher than other times, the deficit was Tk 2,057 crore.
Besides, the shortfall was Tk 3,392 crore against the target in 2019-20 fiscal year while it was Tk1,145 crore in 2018-19 and Tk 179.64 crore in 2017-18.
Can the target ever be achieved?
Meanwhile, there are doubts in all sections about achieving the target of such a large amount this year. Experts said it is necessary to develop the infrastructure in customs and ports to expand trade in order to increase revenue, which is a long term prospect. Otherwise, it will never be possible to collect the expected amount of revenue.
The businessmen of India and Bangladesh are more interested in trade through this port due to the ease of communication. However, due to lack of necessary infrastructure, traders cannot import products as per the demand. And so, the revenue is declining continuously.
Sazedur Rahman, general secretary of the Benapole C&F Agent Association, said it will be difficult to collect such a large amount of revenue in the current fiscal year because of the Covid situation. However, the record clearly shows even prior to Covid the port always missed its target.
Customs official complain of threat on life by smugglers
A customs official, who received death threats from members of a smuggling syndicate, lodged a general diary (GD) with local police station seeking security.
Deputy Commissioner of Benapole Customs House, Md Abdul Quaiyum lodged the GD with Benapole Port Police Station on Sunday night.
Mohamamd Azizur Rahman, Commissioner of Benapole Customs, said “The passengers did not face any trouble but allegations were found from those who brought smuggled goods dodging tax as they failed to bring their goods due to a strict monitoring system.
Also read: Omicron surge in India slams travel through Benapole land port
Benapole is a safe route for smugglers as they illegally bring goods worth Tk several lakh in luggage and hence they are called “luggage party.”
After taking charge joint Commissioner Abdur Rashid seized smuggled goods worth over Tk one crore and realized Tk 20 lakh as revenue tax, which made the smugglers angry, he said.
Quaiyum said Indian smugglers come with business visa and sold their goods in Benapole before returning home.
Also read: Trade through Benapole land port suspended
The syndicate also carried out attacks on some customs officials who seized their goods, causing immense sufferings to the travellers who use the route.
Durga Puja: 23 tonnes of Hilsa sent to India through Benapole
Bangladesh exported 23 tonnes of Hilsa fish to India through Benapole land port Wednesday with less than a month left for the Durga Puja – the biggest festival in West Bengal.
Five trucks carrying 23 tonnes of Hilsa reached the port at 4pm, Md Ishtadul Haque, quality control officer of Benapole Fisheries Office, told UNB. "The Hilsa export to India started today."
Read Govt to consult experts to boost Hilsa production: Dipu Moni
Earlier, the government gave the go-ahead to 52 companies to export 2,080 tonnes of Hilsa to India by October 10.
The demand for the fish during Durga Puja is very high in states like West Bengal as the Bangladeshi Hilsa, found in the River Padma, is considered to be tastier than the ones found in the Ganges.
700 trucks headed to India stranded in Benapole
As many as 700 trucks carrying goods for the Indian market remain stranded on Bangladesh's side of the border at Benapole land port, due to lack of space apparently on the Indian side at Petrapole.
When contacted, Joint General Secretary of Benapole Import-Export Association A. Latif said, “Everyday around 400 good-laden trucks enter Benapole to export products to the other side. But Petrapole authorities are only allowing upto 200 across, citing inadequate space.”
“This has resulted in a long line of trucks in the Benapole port area waiting to be allowed across to deliver the goods in India. The tailback is increasing with each passing day,” he added.
Businessmen have pressed home their demand to the authorities in this regard to push their Indian counterparts to solve the problem as soon as possible stating that they are incurring great loss due to the status quo.
Benapole Customs House Additional Commissioner Neyamul Islam confirmed to UNB that as of today, as many as 700 trucks remain stranded at what is the busiest land port between India and Bangladesh
“We have contacted the Petrapole authorities. They assured us that the problem will be resolved within a week,” Neyamul added.