Waterlogging disrupts activities at Benapole land port

Persistent rainfall over three days till Thursday submerged a major portion of Benapole land port, severely disrupting activities at the country’s biggest land port.

Several yards and warehouses inside the port went under knee-deep water, halting cargo handling and transport activities and forcing the authorities to temporarily shut down several entry gates, reports UNB.

Visiting the land port, the news agency correspondent found that the areas meant for truck parking and unloading of goods went under water.

Authorities said unplanned development and the lack of a proper drainage system caused the waterlogging and disrupted operations of the land port.

Mamun Kabir Tarafdar, deputy director of the land port, said, "The railway authorities filled the land without constructing proper culverts, which is obstructing water drainage and causing widespread waterlogging inside the port."

Locals said that even moderate rain often causes water to accumulate in the port area, affecting both truck movement and the mobility of security personnel.

A port worker said the warehouses are built at a lower elevation than the surrounding roads, preventing normal drainage. "This not only damages the quality of goods but also increases suffering for workers," he added.

Business owners blamed years of unplanned development and the absence of a drainage system for the recurring problem.

"Benapole Port generates around Tk 100 billion in annual revenue for the government. It’s unfortunate that despite this, they continue to face the same hardships year after year,” said trader Al Mamun.

“When rainwater enters warehouses, we suffer heavy losses, he added.

Aminul Haque Anu, vice-president of the Benapole Importers and Exporters Association, echoed similar concerns, saying "Without a proper drainage system, movement becomes extremely difficult, and there's a constant threat of water entering storage facilities," he said.

He mentioned that the port handles 2.2 to 2.4 million tonnes of imported goods annually, stored in 33 sheds, three open yards, and a trans-shipment yard.

"Most of these infrastructures were developed without long-term planning, which is why waterlogging becomes inevitable during rainfall."

Deputy Director Mamun said that steps are being taken to resolve the issue urgently.