Activities suspended at Benapole port for Diwali

Import and export activities between Bangladesh and India through Benapole Land Port, the country's largest land port, remained suspended on Monday due to a public holiday in India marking Diwali, also known as Kali Puja.

The suspension took effect on Monday morning, while customs operations at Benapole and cross-border movement of passport-holding passengers between the two countries continued as usual.

Trade activities are expected to resume on Tuesday morning (November 10), according to port officials.

Badruzzaman Boni, general secretary of the Benapole C&F Agents Staff Association, said Indian traders at Petrapole had suspended all import and export activities for the Diwali holiday.

"They informed us of the decision through a letter. However, passenger movement will remain normal, and operations at Benapole Port and Customs House will continue as usual. Import and export activities will resume on Tuesday morning," he said.

Ruhul Amin, acting director of Benapole Land Port, also confirmed that no goods would be traded through the port on Monday due to the Diwali holiday in India.

He added that all other port and customs activities remained operational.