Fruit imports resume after two days at Benapole

Business Desk :

After a two-day suspension, traders have resumed fruit imports through Benapole land port.
On Thursday morning, 40 trucks loaded with fruits from India’s Petrapole land port arrived within an hour and a half, according to Sushanta Pal, Joint Commissioner of Benapole Customs House.

Fruit imports through Benapole land port had been halted indefinitely from February 4 as a protest against the government’s decision to impose additional import duties, reports, UNB.
To meet domestic demand, importers decided to restart fruit imports from Thursday. However, due to higher import costs, fruit vendors in the open market have increased prices.

The temporary suspension caused fruit prices to rise by 50-70 taka per kilogram.
Previously, customs authorities imposed a 20% supplementary duty, with the government collecting Tk 101 per kg as revenue on imported fruit.

On January 9, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) issued a directive raising the supplementary duty on fruit imports by 10%, increasing it to 30%. This led to an additional 15 taka per kilogram in duties, raising the total to 116 taka.

Mohsin Millon, president of the Benapole Import and Export Association, stated that the two-day halt in fruit imports significantly drove up prices in the domestic market.

To keep fruit prices affordable, traders have resumed imports. However, they have warned that if the increased duty is not withdrawn by February 14, they will suspend fruit imports at all land ports.

Sushanta Pal, Joint Commissioner of Benapole Customs House, confirmed that fruit imports resumed on Thursday following the two-day suspension. Authorities have been instructed to expedite the release of imported fruit consignments.