After a gap of four months, rice imports from India have resumed through Benapole land port. The first consignment arrived in nine Indian trucks carrying a total of 315 tons of rice.
Sajedur Rahman, General Secretary of the Benapole C&F Staff Association, confirmed that the consignment reached Benapole on Thursday night at 10:30 pm.
Shyamal Kumar Nath, Deputy Assistant Officer of the Plant Quarantine Center at Benapole land port, stated that samples of the imported rice were collected and tested on Thursday night. Certificates were issued promptly to ensure quick clearance of the consignment. He added that the last rice import through the port was on April 15 of this year.
Abdus Samad, owner of the importing company M/s Haji Musa Karim & Sons, said the import price of rice per kilogram was set at $0.405, equivalent to 51 Bangladeshi Taka. Additional costs for transportation, taxes, and storage will be added when the rice is marketed.
He mentioned that the nine Indian trucks carrying 315 tons of rice had been waiting at Petrapole port in India since Tuesday, and the consignment entered Benapole port on Thursday night. More rice-laden trucks are still waiting at Petrapole, and the bills of entry have been submitted at Benapole Customs. Clearance procedures for the rice are currently underway.
Aminul Haque, Vice President of the Benapole Port Importers-Exporters Association, said that the Ministry of Food invites applications from businesses for private rice imports to help stabilize the market. Applications for this period were accepted from July 23 to August 7.
He added that importers at Benapole also applied for permission, and with approval, rice imports from India have resumed through Benapole after a four-month pause.
