‘Complete shutdown’ halts all activities at Benapole Customs

All operations at Benapole Customs House were halted on Saturday as part of a nationwide complete shutdown programme called by the NBR Reform Unity Council.

According to the Bangla-language daily Samakal, six trucks of goods cleared on Thursday were imported in the morning, but no goods were exported.

Customs officers had been staging half-day pen-down strikes in recent days. On Saturday, they began a full-day shutdown, disrupting trade and causing cargo congestion.

Abu Taher, Revenue Officer at the Benapole Checkpost Cargo Section, said all import and export work was suspended under a complete shutdown programme led by the NBR Reform Unity Council.

“Only the six approved trucks were processed. No other customs work took place,” he said.

Protesters are demanding the removal of NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan and the withdrawal of what they describe as ‘unfair transfer orders’.

Benapole customs officers and employees began the full shutdown on Saturday in support of the NBR Reform Unity Council’s leadership.