Exporters squeezed as Tk100cr betel-nut cargo stuck at Benapole for 2 months
The delay is causing daily losses of around Tk3 lakh, they say
Highlights
- Over 150 betel-nut trucks stuck at Benapole
- Worth around Tk100cr
- Trucks stranded for nearly two months
- Exporters paying Tk3 lakh daily in charges
- Tk2,000 per truck per day
- Exporters warn losses will mount without action
More than 150 betel-nut-laden trucks worth around Tk100 crore have been stuck at Benapole land port for almost two months, creating a severe bottleneck in outbound trade, exporters have said.
Due to the prolonged halt, exporters are being forced to pay around Tk3 lakh daily in penalties or truck charges – at a rate of Tk2,000 per truck per day.
Business leaders allege that delays in quality assessment and artificial complications on the Indian side at Petrapole port are disrupting exports. They warn that without swift action, exporters may face substantial losses.
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Bangladesh is the world's second-largest producer of betel nut, and its high quality has driven strong demand in India. Data shows that annual exports to India amount to roughly Tk700 crore.
In FY2024–25, Bangladesh's share in India's total betel-nut imports rose to 37% – nearly four times higher than the previous year.
Despite this booming trade, more than 150 trucks have remained stranded at Benapole, leading to port congestion and growing hardship for truck drivers.
Momin, a truck driver stranded with a consignment, expressed frustration. "It has been one month and 27 days. We are stuck here facing all kinds of problems. We suspect traders on the other side are intentionally delaying the unloading to control the betel-nut market through a syndicate," he said.
Ashraful Islam, a representative of Auliya Enterprise, which handles export clearance, echoed the concern. "Officials at India's Petrapole port are delaying the release of goods, citing testing and other procedures. We are trying our best to get the consignments cleared quickly," he said.
Traders said that since 5 August last year, after the fall of the Awami League government, India has imposed a series of restrictions and conditions on exports from Bangladesh, causing export volumes to fall by nearly 30%.
Mostafizjoha Selim, office secretary of the Benapole Customs C&F Agents Association, said disruptions in trade harm both countries. "The governments of both nations must step in immediately to resolve this situation," he said.
He noted that India's restrictions have halted exports of several key products through Benapole, including jute and jute goods, garments, wooden furniture, and fruit juice.
However, a port official offered a different explanation. Abu Talha, deputy director of the Benapole Plant Quarantine Centre, said 10,650 tonnes of betel nut were exported to India through Benapole in the first five months of FY2025–26.
"The trucks reportedly facing delays are dealing with internal issues among traders," he said. "The consignments whose documents reach us are being cleared and entering India without delay."
He added that any betel-nut trucks with proper documentation would receive assistance for quick clearance.
Exporters, however, said that without urgent government intervention, it will be impossible to overcome the mounting financial losses.
