Import and export through Benapole, the country’s largest land port, will remain suspended for seven straight days during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
The closure will run from Mar 17 to Mar 23, combining the holidays for Shab-e-Qadr, Eid-ul-Fitr and the weekend, said Emdadul Haque Lata, general secretary of the Benapole C&F Agent Association.
“Offices will reopen on Tuesday, the 24th of March. Import and export activities will resume from that day,” he said.
However, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has instructed customs authorities to keep import and export-related work running on a limited scale during the holiday period, except on Eid day.
In an order, the revenue authority said the measure was aimed at keeping the country’s import-export trade running without interruption.
The order added that limited operations would continue on all government and weekly holidays during the period, with only Eid day exempted.
Benapole Customs House Assistant Commissioner Rahat Hossain said the port’s customs activities would remain partially operational in line with the NBR directive.
“Like other customs houses, Benapole Customs House will remain open on a limited scale during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays. Only on Eid day will customs stations remain closed,” he said.
But officials of the Benapole Customs C&F Agents and Transport Owners Association said many workers were unwilling to work during the Eid break, raising questions over how much business could actually be handled during the holidays.
Port and customs authorities, however, said goods would still be delivered if importers wanted to take delivery during the closure.
Those involved in port operations fear the long holiday could worsen the truck backlog on both sides of the border.
Kartik Chakraborty, secretary of the C&F Staff Welfare Association at India’s Petrapole port, said congestion had already built up there.
“Due to a shortage of space, several hundred loaded trucks are waiting at the port truck terminal, Petrapole parking area and the Bongaon terminal,” he told bdnews24.com.
“The goods will enter Benapole from Petrapole after the holidays, which could create severe traffic congestion in the Petrapole port area.”
Shamim Hossain, director for traffic at Benapole port, said port operations would remain closed during the holidays, though limited services would continue in coordination with customs.
“If any importer wants to take delivery of goods, it will be provided,” he said.