Trade between Bangladesh and India via the Benapole-Petrapole land port has come to a halt since 2nd October (Monday) morning in honour of the 154th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the revered Indian Father of the Nation.
Consequently, numerous trucks laden with goods find themselves stranded on either side of the port.
A significant number of these vehicles carry essential raw materials for Bangladesh’s garment industry.
Karthik Chandra Chakraborty, the General Secretary of the Indian Petrapole C&F Agent Staff Welfare Association, noted that this temporary suspension in trade is due to the public holiday commemorating Mahatma Gandhi, a prominent advocate of non-violent activism and a pacifist leader in India’s history.
He emphasised that, while trade remains halted, the movement of passengers between the two countries and other port-related activities continue without interruption.
Normal export-import operations are expected to resume on 3 October (Tuesday) morning.
