Published : 21 Sep 2026, 06:46 PM
Updated : 21 Sep 2026, 06:46 PM
The fuel price hike is rippling through Benapole Land Port in Jashore, pushing up the cost of transporting goods across Bangladesh.
Truck owners and workers say fares have risen by Tk 5,000 to Tk 8,000 per trip depending on the destination, putting importers and traders under fresh pressure.
Hundreds of import-export trucks pass through Benapole every day, with at least 500 carrying imported goods from the port into the country.
Importers and businesses are struggling as transport costs rise.
Arguments between truck drivers and importers and traders over fares have continued since Monday morning.
Benapole Land Port Importer and Exporter Association President Matiar Rahman said, “Benapole is the country’s largest land port. Every day, 350 to 400 trucks carry imported goods through this port, while 100 to 150 trucks export goods.
“Because of the fuel price hike, we cannot send imported and export goods to different districts and abroad.
“Truck owners have raised fares by Tk 5,000 to Tk 6,000 along with the fuel price hike. This has put businesses in severe trouble.”
The Energy and Mineral Resources Division issued a gazette Sunday night raising the prices of four fuels by Tk 20 per litre. Diesel now costs Tk 135, kerosene Tk 155, octane Tk 165 and petrol Tk 160.
Transport operators said fares for destinations inside the country have risen by Tk 5,000 to Tk 7,000. They expect higher transport costs to push up commodity prices.
A 15-tonne truck from Benapole to Dhaka cost Tk 21,000-22,000 on Sunday but now costs Tk 25,000-26,000.
The Chattogram fare has risen from Tk 27,000-28,000 to Tk 34,000-35,000, while the Narayanganj fare has increased from Tk 22,000-23,000 to Tk 27,000-28,000.
Truck driver Khairul Islam said, “With diesel rising by Tk 20 to Tk 135 a litre, truck and goods-vehicle fares have increased by Tk 5,000 to Tk 8,000 per trip. There is nothing we can do about it.”
Shariful Islam said, “With diesel rising by Tk 20 a litre, we are also in difficulty trying to set fares.
“As fuel prices rise, prices of all goods will go up. It will become difficult for poor people like us to survive.”
Benapole Importers and Exporters Association Vice-President Aminul Haque said higher transport costs would ultimately be passed on to consumers through higher prices of essentials and imported goods.
“Transport costs have risen abnormally, increasing pressure on importers. If fuel supplies do not normalise quickly, trade could suffer a major setback,” he said.
Benapole Transport Owners Association General Secretary Azim Uddin Gazi said diesel prices had risen while petrol pumps were failing to supply enough fuel.
He said, “Many C&F agents and transport businesses are in trouble because they have annual contracts with importers. Instead of making a profit, we are sending goods to importers at losses of hundreds of taka. Truck fares have risen because fuel prices, tyres, truck parts and ferry charges have all increased.”
Benapole C&F businessman Abdul Latif said fares were now far above normal because of the fuel hike and transport shortage, threatening importers with losses.
Some are paying extra to clear essential goods before perishables spoil. Truck owners say higher fuel and ferry costs, along with shortages, have pushed up fares, while the lack of return loads from Dhaka means they must recover costs for both legs of the journey.
