Benapole Port Faces Tk300 Crore Revenue Shortfall Amid Decline in Indian Imports

Bangladesh’s largest land port, Benapole, has reported a significant Tk300 crore revenue deficit in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, primarily due to reduced imports from India and delays in customs clearance procedures.

According to data from Benapole Customs, the revenue target for the July–September period was Tk1,850 crore, but actual collections stood at only Tk1,550 crore.

Officials attributed this shortfall to a 20–25% decline in imports of consumer goods, electronics, cosmetics, and garments from India. The ongoing tensions in Bangladesh–India trade relations since August 2024 have further dampened the country’s import-export activities, significantly reducing trade volumes through the port.

In addition to decreased imports, delays in product inspection and testing have slowed down the clearance process, affecting daily revenue collection.

Mofizur Rahman Sojan, former president of the Benapole Customs Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) Agents Association, highlighted infrastructure challenges, scanner shortages, and lengthy customs procedures as major bottlenecks. “Currently, only about half of the imported consignments are cleared each day,” he said.

Although 800–1,000 trucks arrive at Benapole daily, traffic congestion, limited storage space, and slow unloading continue to create backlogs, increasing transportation costs and delaying revenue processing.

Benapole Customs Commissioner Khalid Md Abu Hossain said that several initiatives are being taken to enhance transparency and expedite customs procedures. “We are expanding digital clearance and online payment systems to make trade faster and more efficient,” he noted.

The decline in port activity has also affected the local economy and labour market. With fewer goods being cleared, labourers have lost work opportunities, and transport operators are suffering financial setbacks.

Local businessman Md Maruf Hossain shared, “We used to complete two to three trips a day, but now even one trip is uncertain due to delays in customs clearance.” Similarly, C&F agent Rubel Hossain added that the shortage of scanners and parking facilities continues to slow down operations.

To tackle these issues, Benapole Customs and port authorities have launched new measures from October, including the installation of additional scanners, expansion of parking areas, and full implementation of digital clearance and online payment systems.

Commissioner Khalid Md Abu Hossain expressed optimism about the upcoming improvements: “Once these initiatives are fully operational, we expect smoother trade operations, faster revenue collection, and fewer challenges for importers and exporters.”