Waterlogging hampers goods handling at Benapole port
Despite generating over Tk10,000 crore in annual revenue, the port lacks an effective drainage system
The normal activities including the goods handling at Benapole port have been disrupted severely due to waterlogging caused by the torrential rainfall over the past three days.
A knee-to-ankle-deep water inside the port due to lack of proper drainage led to persistent waterlogging, halting unloading and transportation activities.
The authorities have temporarily shut several entry gates while the yards, normally used for truck parking and goods handling, was also submerged by the rain water.
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The customs house has also been affected, with stagnant knee-deep water hampering clearance activities.
Officials are struggling to reach inspection zones and many are unable to work.
Besides, a panic has been created among the staff and officials due to a fire that broke out on Monday night following the snapping of an electrical wire.
However, the server of the customs house went out of order, disrupting the customs process.
Benapole Port Director Shamim Hossain said, "Railway authorities filled land without constructing culverts, which has blocked water flow. As a result, rainwater has no way to drain out, causing severe waterlogging throughout the port."
Benapole port handles between 22 and 24 lakh metric tonnes of imports annually, stored across 33 sheds, three open yards and one transshipment yard.
However, most of the infrastructure was built without long-term planning, leading to severe waterlogging during rain.
Despite generating over Tk10,000 crore in annual revenue, the port lacks an effective drainage system.
Even moderate rainfall causes widespread flooding in and around the port area, impeding the movement of cargo-laden trucks and complicating security operations.
Stagnant water mixed with chemicals in some areas is also posing serious health hazards to workers, with skin diseases on the rise.
"Working in knee-deep water every day is causing skin infections and other illnesses," said one warehouse worker.
Many port roads are elevated higher than the storage sheds, preventing natural drainage.
This is not only damaging the quality of imported goods but also causing considerable suffering for port users.
Hazardous chemicals left abandoned after past warehouse fires continue to mix with rainwater, contributing to health risks for workers.
