Just one day after operations were temporarily halted till 24th October, trade through the Benapole-Petrapole land port has resumed this morning. Following the postponement of an inaugural event for a new passenger terminal at Petrapole, which Indian Home Minister Amit Shah was supposed to attend, the Indian authorities withdrew the ban.
Amit Shah’s visit to the port had prompted the decision to halt trade in order to strengthen security. But according to reports, Shah called off his presence because of the Bay of Bengal cyclonic storm that is predicted to hit West Bengal and Khulna in the next few days, specifically on 24th October.
The Benapole C&F Association’s president, Shamsur Rahman, stated that the Indian government lifted the trade ban as a result of the event’s cancellation.
Trading has started today, according to Rashedul Sajib Najir, Deputy Director (Traffic) at Benapole Port. As of right now, 56 trucks filled with items have entered India, and 84 vehicles carrying imported goods have entered Bangladesh. Najir promised that unless a fresh order is issued, trading would go on.