Import and export operations resumed at Bangladesh’s Banglabandha and Bhomra land ports on Monday after a week-long suspension for Eid-ul-Adha, restoring cross-border trade flows with India and Bhutan and bringing back activity to the two key gateways.
Trade through Banglabandha Land Port in Panchagarh and Bhomra Land Port in Satkhira had remained closed from 25 May to 31 May for the Eid holidays, although passenger movement through immigration checkpoints continued during the period.
Banglabandha Land Port In-charge Abul Kalam Azad said commercial operations involving trucks from Bangladesh, India and Bhutan restarted on Monday morning.
With operations resuming, roads and yards inside the port area regained their usual activity, crowded once again with labourers, exporters and importers.
Port authorities said 64 trucks carrying stone entered Bangladesh from Bhutan in the first phase after reopening.
At the same time, Bangladesh exported 19 trucks loaded with soybean meal and jute rolls through the port.
Meanwhile, import and export activities between Bangladesh and India through Bhomra land port in Satkhira also resumed on Monday following the seven-day Eid closure.
The reopening restored the port’s normal commercial atmosphere as cargo movement and customs-related activities resumed from the morning.
Abu Musa, general secretary of the Bhomra Land Port C&F Association, said the decision to suspend trade operations during Eid was taken jointly by local stakeholders and India’s Ghojadanga C&F Agent Cargo Welfare Association.
He said trade activities returned to normal from Monday morning after the holiday break ended.
During the closure, only passport holders were allowed to cross through the immigration channel, according to Bhomra land port Immigration Police Officer-in-Charge Tufan Mondal.
Bhomra Land Port Deputy Director Mamun Kabir Torofder also confirmed the resumption of operations.
Customs Commissioner Mushfiqur Rahman said the port had regained its regular level of activity and described Bhomra as an important route for bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India.
The reopening of the two land ports is expected to help ease cargo congestion and restore supply chains disrupted during the Eid holiday period, particularly for goods transported through the northern and south-western border corridors.
