Rain has damaged piles of imported goods worth millions at the Benapole land port as the hundred years old shades are in shambles.
Rain water easily seeps through these shades, said sources at the port.
They said during the continuous rain in the last three days, water easily entered through the broken pipe of the shade number nine and damaged powders and seeds of paddy and jute imported from India stored inside the shade.
Shade no nine In-Charge Monir Hossain said: “Currently there are 35 shades in the Benapole port. Four shades were built exclusively to store only chemicals. All of these shades are in shambles now.
A railwayline is situated behind the land port while the Jessore-Calcutta road runs in front of it, said sources associated with the port.
The shade's drainage system lies under the railwayline which has become blocked now for lack of maintenance. It overflows and enters the shades every now and then.
Imported mechinaries were found dumped under sky inside the port without any tarpaulin. As a result, they are becoming damaged during monsson.
Moklesur Rahman, representative of an import organistaion, said: “A lot of our goods have been damaged in the rain water. We have informed the matter to the port authorities.”
Benapole Customs Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) agent association Co-Chair Nuruzzaman said: “Most of the shades of the Benapole port are damaged. We have told the director to take immediate steps to solve the matter.”
Benapole Land Port Director (Traffic) Nitai Chandra Sen said: “A lot of products have been damaged due to the penetration of rainwater through the nine number shade. Soon it will be repaired.”