Benapole in long holiday ‘trap’

Export and import through Bangladesh’s largest land port, Benapole, will remain suspended for nine days in a row on account of Shab-e-Qadr, Eid-ul-Fitr and weekend holidays.

Officials and clearing and forwarding agents said activities at customs and land port offices stopped just after noon on Thursday.

Benapole Customs Assistant Commissioner Sadhan Kumar Kundu told bdnews24.com Eid holidays had been announced for July 28-30 anticipating that the festival would fall on July 29.

“And if the Eid falls a day later, subject to sighting of moon, July 30 (Thursday) will be holiday too.”

“Next two days - Aug 1 and 2 - are weekend holidays. In such case, government offices will open on Aug 3. Altogether the port is going to fall in a nine-day holiday trap.”

Shab-e-Qadr holiday is going to coincide with the weekend holiday on Friday.

Benapole Customs C&F Agents Association President Mofizur Rahman said though government offices were supposed to remain open on July 27, there would be little work on that day.

He, however, said export and import on a limited scale might take place at the port on July 27 and July 31.