36 garments-laden trucks stranded at Benapole port

Thirty-six Bangladeshi trucks carrying ready-made garment (RMG) items have remained stranded at Benapole land port following restrictions imposed by India on the import of certain goods through its land ports.

Secretary of Petrapole Clearing Agent Staff Welfare Association Kartik Chakraborty, said the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, imposed restrictions on the imports of certain goods, including readymade garments.

Particularly, certain readymade garments that were previously allowed through land ports must be routed via Kolkata Sea Port or Mumbai's Nhava Sheva Port, he said.

However, goods that already have LCs or TTs in place are being discussed with Indian Customs for possible clearance, he added.

Mohsin Milon, president of the Benapole Importers and Exporters Association, said due to this restriction by the Indian government, 36 trucks carrying RMG goods were stuck at Benapole, awaiting entry clearance.

Exporters are concerned about potential commercial losses due to the sudden restriction.

Mamun Kabir Tarafder, deputy director of Benapole Land Port, said they have informed the matter to the higher authorities concerned.

India yesterday imposed port restrictions on the import of certain goods, including readymade garments (RMG) and processed food items, from Bangladesh with immediate effect.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India has issued a notification in this regard.

These restrictions came after Bangladesh restricted Indian cotton via sea ports, closing land ports, a diplomatic source told UNB.