Export and import through Benapole land port in Jessore with neighbouring India remains suspended for the second consecutive day on Sunday due to a work abstention of customs and forwarding (C&F) agents in India's Petrapole land port.
Several hundreds of goods-laden Bangladeshi trucks heading towards India have been stuck at the Benapole port since Saturday.
Abdul Jalil, deputy director of Benapole land port, confirmed the development saying that the work abstention continues for the second day.
Sajedul Rahman, general secretary of Benapole C&F Staff Association, said that “Mostafa Organic” from Satkhira exported three tons of fish through the Benapole border on March 18.
A local C&F agent submitted documents at the Benapople customs saying that “Baba International” of North 24 Parganas in India was importing the consignment.
Tipped-off, members of India's Border Security Force (BSF) seized gold bars weighing around 4.66kg from the Bangladeshi truck when it arrived there.
An Indian truck driver and a C&F employee were sued in a case in this connection there, he said.
Protesting the case, workers of the Indian land port called a strike on Saturday, demanding withdrawal of the case filed against the Indian C&F employee in connection with the recovery of the 40 gold bars from the Bangladeshi truck at Petrapol land port on March 18.
Urging the authorities concerned to address the problem, Benapole Import-Export Association Vice President Aminul Huq said that around 300 trucks carrying goods including jute and jute products, chemicals for textiles, and fish were stranded at the local land port due to the strike.
Businessmen alleged that they are being subjected to harassment due to smuggling of gold and drugs.