Due to import delays, importers are diverting their goods to other ports, significantly impacting the revenue of the Benapole Customs House. Photo: Messenger
Across the country's largest Benapole land port, the import of perishable goods has nearly ground to a halt, with the Petrapol Port Authority in India stalling trucks for hours under the guise of cereal imports, affecting the flow of highly perishable items.
Consequently, importers are diverting their goods to other ports, impacting the revenue of the Benapole Customs House significantly, as a substantial portion of its revenue comes from perishable imports.
It's widely recognized that a significant portion of perishable goods from India enters through the Benapole port. Previously, various perishable items, including fruits, fish, and vegetables, were swiftly imported and cleared daily. However, in recent months, the Petrapol Port Authority introduced a rule prioritizing cereal imports, limiting perishable imports to only five trucks after every twenty general goods trucks post-noon. This restriction has led to significant losses, as most perishable shipments fail to enter during the day. While some consignments are allowed entry at night, the Benapole Customs authorities don't release perishable goods during nighttime, resulting in delays and eventual spoilage.
Importers of perishable goods demand that general goods imports be allowed from morning until midnight. They propose that all perishable cargoes be allowed to enter within a short window after noon, which would expedite the process and boost government revenue. Previously, Benapole port handled 100 to 150 trucks of perishable goods daily, generating revenue of 18-20 crores per day. However, due to the current restrictions, only 5 to 10 trucks are imported daily.
In response to the situation, the National Board of Revenue has issued the Perishable Goods Expedited Redemption and Disposal Rules-2021, urging for quick disposal of 63 types of perishable products to streamline operations.
Despite these efforts, the Petrapol Port Authority in India has not complied with the directive to prioritize the speedy export of perishable goods, as outlined in the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.
Port users and importers advocate for a swift resolution to the issue, calling for an end to the lengthy process and bilateral discussions between the two countries to streamline imports.
Ziaur Rahman, owner of Rahat Traders, expressed frustration over the increased harassment faced by importers due to delays in clearing perishable goods, resulting in financial losses and forcing goods to be redirected to other ports.
Emdadul Haque Lata, General Secretary of Benapole Customs Clearing Agents Association, highlighted the violation of rules by the Petrapol port manager and urged for immediate resolution to prevent further deterioration of the business environment.
Rezaul Karim, Director of Benapole land port, confirmed efforts to address the issue with the Petrapol port manager and urged adherence to the serial system for smooth operations.
Md. Shafayet Hossain, Joint Commissioner of Benapole Customs House, acknowledged the complications caused by delays at the Petrapol port and emphasized the need for swift resolution to prevent further decline in imports and revenue at Benapole port.
Messenger/Disha
