Photo : Collected
Starting from today, trade through the Benapole port will remain suspended for five days due to Indian elections in Bangaon of North 24 Parganas (May 18-May 20), Bangladeshi upazila elections in Sharsha of Jashore on May 21, and the public holiday for Buddha Purnima on May 22.
However, emergency patients and vehicles containing perishable goods will be allowed to travel with valid documents. The order will remain in force from 6pm on Friday (May 17) until the end of polling on May 20, according to a letter signed by Shri Sharad Kumar Dwivedi, District Magistrate of North 24 Parganas, on May 16.
On Monday, import and export will remain closed due to the government holiday, but the movement of goods will continue as usual at the port. However, on May 21 and 22, there will be no operations at the customs and the port. The immigration authorities said that the movement of passengers will remain normal during this time. The import-export trade will resume on Thursday (May 23) morning.
Confirming the matter, Sajedur Rahman, general secretary of Benapole C&F Agents Staff Association, and Karthik Chakraborty, general secretary of Petrapole C&F Staff Welfare Association, said that due to the Lok Sabha elections in Bangaon on Monday (May 20), C&F owners and workers will be in their respective areas to cast votes, which is why an official holiday was announced.
Azharul Islam, officer-in-charge of Benapole Checkpost Police Immigration, said that even if import-export is closed for five days, the movement of passengers will be normal. “We have not received any letter restricting passenger movement for the three days due to Indian elections.”
Rezaul Karim, director of Benapole port, said that import-export trade will resume from Thursday morning.
Messenger/Fameema
