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Export, import, cargo delivery and related operations at Bangladesh’s land ports have stopped as customs officials joined the “complete shutdown” initiated by National Board of Revenue (NBR) staffers.
Hundreds of trucks carrying goods are stuck at the Bangladesh-India port areas due to the closure of customs clearance and import-export trade, causing significant losses for traders, reports bdnews24.com.
However, Mamun Kabir Tarafdar, deputy director of Benapole Land Port, said while passport passenger services remain normal, import-export activities through Benapole Port have been suspended since Saturday morning due to a protest by customs officials.
Indian trucks delivering goods during this period will still be allowed to return to India after unloading at the port, he added.
The protesting NBR officials and employees have been observing the “Complete Shutdown and March to NBR” programme since Saturday morning, demanding the removal of NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan and the withdrawal of the “retaliatory and oppressive” transfer order.
The protestors' platform, NBR Reform Unity Council, observed a pen-down strike from 9am to 12pm on Monday and Tuesday, and 12pm to 5pm on Wednesday and Thursday with the same demand.
The same programme is being observed at customs houses in other land ports in solidarity with the protest, resulting in a halt at customs operations related to import and export since Saturday morning. No goods are being released from the ports.
At the Benapole Customs House on Saturday, banners were seen hanging at the gate, preventing entry into the office, and officials’ desks were left empty.
The NBR’s online server has also been shut down, making it impossible to submit any bill of entry for import or export.
Sajedur Rahman, general secretary of the Benapole C&F Agent Staff Association, said: “All customs activities have been closed since Saturday morning due to the complete shutdown.
“After the six Indian trucks issued with IGMs entered Benapole Port last Thursday, no other trucks have entered the Benapole Port with goods.”
Jamal Hossain, former joint general secretary of the Benapole C&F Agent Association, said: “Due to the pen break and shutdown of customs, importers are not able to clear and clear their imported goods on time. As a result, godown demurrage is increasing.
“Due to the non-issuance of IGMs during these programmes, the correct goods are not being imported.
“The quality of many products deteriorates, and if raw materials for export-oriented industries don’t reach them on time, it leads to export losses. Some raw materials even rot or become unusable.”