Benapole, Aug 16 (UNB) – Export and import through Benapole Land Port has been stopped since Wednesday for Aug 15, Lailatul Qadr and Eid holidays and partly due to non-cooperation by Indian Customs and importers who refuse to unload Bangladeshi export items at Petrapole.

Port sources said several hundred trucks, loaded with various export goods, have remained stranded in and around Benapole Land Port for the last two days since the week-long holiday began on Wednesday early morning.

They said although the National Board of Revenue (NBR) in a notice asked the Benapole customs office to remain open on Aug 16-18 in order to facilitate export of Bangladeshi goods to India through the country`s largest land port but no trucks crossed the border as Indian customs and their importers have refused to receive and unload the imported Bangladeshi items at Petrapole Land Port since Aug 15 for unknown reason.

Resultantly over 1,000 trucks laden with export items have remained stranded in roads and yards of Benapole Land Port for the last couple of days.

Contacted Port director Abdul Awal said ``Non-cooperation by the Indians partly led to a total halt in export through Benapole.

The Eid-ul-Fitr vacation will end on Aug 21, he added.
 
Meanwhile, cross-border smuggling has increased in the last few days due to stranding of trucks for several days in and around Benapole Port.