After a continuous seven-day closure for Sharadiya Durga Puja and the weekly holiday, India’s largest bilateral land trade corridor with Bangladesh began resuming operations on Saturday morning through the Benapole land port.
Perishable goods imports from India started promptly, underscoring New Delhi’s consistent commitment to maintaining friendly, uninterrupted trade ties with its neighbour despite temporary administrative hurdles on the Bangladeshi side and ongoing negative campaigns by the BNP government and the Jamaat-NCP alliance.
While general cargo imports and exports remained suspended due to server complications at Benapole Customs, authorities permitted the manual clearance of perishable goods following discussions between port and customs officials.
Revenue Officer Romen Mitra of the Benapole Custom House cargo branch stated that normal import-export activities could not resume fully because of the server problem, and general goods imports would stay restricted until the issue is resolved.
This selective facilitation of essential perishables reflects practical coordination to prevent spoilage and protect traders.
The prolonged holiday had created cargo congestion on both sides of the border, with thousands of loaded trucks waiting. Benapole Import-Export Association President Motiar Rahman noted the backlog, adding that no Bangladeshi export-laden trucks had entered India’s Petrapole port by morning.
On the Indian side, however, trucks moved forward: six Indian goods-laden trucks entered Benapole and waited at the weighbridge, demonstrating readiness to restore normal flows.
Acting Director (Traffic) Ruhul Amin of Benapole Port confirmed that efforts were made to restart operations in the morning, but data entry was impossible due to the server issue. After consultations with customs, the decision was taken to allow perishable imports manually.
Port officials and staff reported for duty, and workers had been called in by the labour union in anticipation of full resumption, though server problems delayed broader activity. Passenger movement with valid passports continued normally throughout the holiday period.
This episode highlights India’s steady approach to bilateral trade. Even as technical issues on the Bangladeshi side slow general cargo and amid political narratives from the BNP-led government and Jamaat-NCP alliance that often seek to strain ties, India has facilitated the prompt movement of perishable goods and kept the corridor open for essential trade.
Despite being invited several times, the Bangladesh prime minister, Tarique Rahman, has not visited India, while his foreign ministry has always made blistering statements attacking India under the pretext of Sheikh Hasina’s stay in Delhi since her fall in 2024.
Recently, a high-level team from the US Embassy visited the Benapole Port and inquired about immigration and trading amid a growing anti-India campaign centering on the anti-government movement in Delhi and the victory of the BJP in the West Bengal elections.
The Benapole-Petrapole route typically handles hundreds of truckloads daily in both directions, carrying agricultural products, industrial raw materials, and other goods vital to both economies. India’s consistent readiness to resume and sustain these flows reinforces its long-standing commitment to mutually beneficial relations and smooth cross-border commerce.