Hili port customs earns Tk2.5cr on the first day
Import and export resumed at Burimari and Hili land ports in Lalmonirhat and Dinajpur respectively for the first time ever since the nationwide general holiday was announced on March 25.
Trading reopened when three stone-laden trucks entered the port’s yard after 80 days from Changrabandha land port in India’s Cooch Behar state.
Earlier on Monday afternoon, a meeting was held between Indian and Bangladeshi traders and officials at Zero Point area near Burimari land port to discuss when to resume import-export trade.
According to the Burimari customs and land port authorities, import-export activities were suspended for two months and 20 days from March 22 to June 9 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Thousands of workers lost their jobs at the land ports of Changrabandha in India, Fulsiling in Bhutan and Burimari in Bangladesh due to the suspension of trilateral trade activities. On the other hand, the government was also deprived of huge revenue collection.
Deputy Director (DD) of Burimari Land Port Authority Md Mahfuzul Islam Bhuiyan said, “Burimari Land Port will be operational again as before with the commencement of import-export activities.”
“However, we started unloading and official activities in compliance with the health rules, so that there is no risk of getting infected with coronavirus,” he added.
Meanwhile, Hili land port also resumed trade activities on Wednesday, after 75 days since the general holiday came into effect.
The port bagged Tk2.5 crore on its first day as trading resumed at the request of Bangladeshi traders, keeping compliance with the health rules set by the government.
On the first day, a total of 40 trucks carrying various goods including onions, nuts, cumin and seeds entered the country from India.
On the other hand, six trucks of rice bran oil were exported from Bangladesh to India.
Mahbubur Rahman, a customs official at Hili land port, said the government earned Tk2.52 crore from the goods imported through the land port.
He also said this was the highest revenue collection in a single day this year.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
