Waterlogging has developed in several sheds of Benapole Land Port due to continuous rainfall, leaving imported goods worth crores of taka submerged in knee-deep water and causing anxiety among importers.
Port users said that although sheds, yards and other facilities have been constructed at the country’s largest land port, poor drainage management causes hundreds of crores of taka worth of imported goods to be inundated even after light rainfall.
The port authorities, however, said they were trying to find a permanent solution to the waterlogging problem.
Continuous rainfall has been affecting the region since Friday night. Due to the heavy and prolonged rain, imported goods stored in five sheds in front of Gate No 3 of Benapole Port have been submerged. In some areas, water has risen to knee level.
Efforts are underway to remove the water using power pumps. Officials from the port authorities and representatives of port users visited the affected areas.
Former president of the Benapole Customs C&F Agents Business Association Mofizur Rahman Sojon said local port user organisations had long been raising concerns over various mismanagement issues, but the port authorities had not paid attention to their complaints.
“As a result, nearly 100 importers are now facing the prospect of losing everything,” he said.
He added that the port authorities do not provide any compensation as the goods are not insured.
Although a committee was formed to address water drainage issues, it has not been effective, he said.
“During last year’s monsoon, the committee members were seen working for one or two days, but no further plans were made afterwards,” he added.
Benapole Importers and Exporters Association Vice-president Aminul Haque Anu said the situation had been created due to unplanned development and the lack of proper drainage facilities.
“Benapole is the largest land port in the country. The government collects around Tk10,000 crore in revenue from this port every year,” he said.
He said businesspeople had repeatedly complained to the port authorities, but no effective measures had been taken.
“It is unfortunate that the government has taken no action despite such a major commercial facility suffering from this crisis year after year,” he said.
He added that when rainwater enters warehouses and damages goods, traders have to bear the losses.
Benapole Land Port Director Shamim Hossain said several sheds had been affected by waterlogging due to the rain.
“Efforts are being made to drain the water using power pumps. However, the continuous rainfall has made the process somewhat difficult,” he said.
He expressed hope that the situation would improve once the rain stopped. He also said that efforts were underway to find a permanent solution to the waterlogging problem.
