Petrapole-Benapole land port to remain closed for 8 days on the occasion of Durga Puja

POBNEWS24, Benapole (Jessore) Oct 12, 2026 : Import and export activities between Bangladesh and India through the largest land port of Benapole will remain closed for 8 days on the occasion of Durga Puja. Traders fear that this will lead to a goods and traffic jam at the ports of the two countries. In addition, there may be disruptions in the supply of raw materials to industries. However, the travel of passport-holding passengers between the two countries will remain normal during this time.
Badruzzaman Boni, general secretary of the Benapole C&F Agents Staff Association, said that import and export activities will be closed at the Petrapole port of India from October 17 to 21 on the occasion of Durga Puja. On the other hand, Indian C&F agents have announced that commercial activities will be closed from October 20 to 24, including the weekly holiday in Bangladesh.
However, the activities of Benapole customs and port will remain normal on October 18 and 19. Import and export between the two countries are scheduled to resume from the morning of October 25 after the holiday.
According to port sources, Benapole land port is very important for importers due to its geographical location and short distance from Kolkata. The distance from Benapole to Kolkata is about 84 kilometers. Hundreds of trucks of goods from India enter Bangladesh through this port every day. Conversely, trucks carrying goods from Bangladesh also go to India.
In addition to raw materials for industries, various types of food products are imported through this port. Those concerned claim that a large part of the goods imported from India enter the country through Benapole. As a result, if commercial activities are closed for a long time, there may be pressure on the supply system, which is also likely to affect the market.
Port users say that even if import and export are closed for a day, there is a traffic jam at the ports of the two countries. In that case, if activities are closed for several days in a row, the traffic jam of trucks carrying goods may increase further. Currently, about 500 trucks of goods are imported and exported through this port every day. In addition, about 3,000 passport-holding passengers travel on the Benapole-Petrapole route every day for medical, business and other purposes.
The government receives about 10 crore taka revenue every day from commercial activities and about 3 million taka from passenger traffic, according to relevant sources.
Kartik Chakraborty, general secretary of the Petrapole Port Clearing Agents Staff Welfare Association in India, said that due to the government holiday for Durga Puja, the operations of Petrapole Port will be closed from October 17 to 21. Since Bangladesh is also on holiday from October 20 to 24, there will be a break in the commercial activities of the two countries. Import and export will resume from the morning of October 25.
He also said that if the Bangladesh government sends hilsa fish to India on the occasion of Puja, special measures will be taken to unload it.
Ruhul Amin, acting director of Benapole Land Port, said that the customs authorities of India and the C&F agents of the two countries have informed the port authorities about the Durga Puja holiday. However, despite the closure of import and export, the loading and unloading, unloading and customs clearance activities at Benapole Port will be normal on October 18 and 19. During this time, Indian truck drivers will be able to return home with empty trucks after unloading the goods. Benapole Checkpost Immigration Police Officer-in-Charge Saifur Rahman said that although the goods transport is closed, there will be no obstacle in the movement of passengers between the two countries. Passengers will be able to travel as usual. Necessary measures have been taken to ensure safe travel considering that the pressure of passengers may increase during the puja. The number of officers at the immigration desk has also been increased to increase passenger services.