Bangladesh-India trade at Benapole to pause for eight days

Import and export trade through Bangladesh’s Benapole crossing and India’s Petrapole port will be suspended Oct. 17-24 for Durga Puja, with operations scheduled to resume the morning of Oct. 25.

Petrapole authorities informed their Bangladeshi counterparts in writing, The Business Standard reported Monday. Petrapole’s closure runs Oct. 17-21, while Bangladesh’s government holidays halt Benapole’s import-export activities Oct. 20-24.

Benapole acting director Ruhul Amin said cargo loading, unloading, clearance, and customs assessment would continue Oct. 18 and 19. Indian drivers could return home with empty trucks after unloading.

Passenger crossings will continue normally, immigration police officer-in-charge Saifur Rahman said. Police have increased security ahead of festival travel.

Port sources said Benapole receives about 300 to 350 truckloads from India daily and exports about 100, including trade in industrial raw materials.