Benapole: Shipping Adviser Brig General (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain today inaugurated a newly built cargo vehicle terminal (CVT) at Benapole Land Port in Jashore district. “A huge number of trucks carrying Indian imports will be stationed at the CVT at a time alongside Bangladeshi trucks loaded with export goods bound for India,” he stated during the inauguration ceremony.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the adviser highlighted that a significant portion of Bangladesh’s road-based export-import business operates through the Benapole Land Port. Previously, the absence of a cargo terminal resulted in Indian goods-laden trucks causing traffic congestion on the roads. On average, 500 to 600 Indian trucks enter Benapole, while 450 to 500 Bangladeshi trucks cross into India. This congestion and mismanagement severely impacted port activities.
The inauguration of the CVT is expected to enhance the port’s efficiency and significantly reduce the turnover time for transports. Sakhawat also mentioned that the
port’s earnings would likely increase due to the project’s implementation. He further emphasized the importance of improving international passenger services, reducing road traffic congestion, constructing a new warehouse shade, and enhancing port security and equipment handling.
The new CVT, constructed on 41 acres of land at a cost of Taka 329.20 crore, can accommodate over 1500 goods-laden trucks. It includes a parking yard, internal roads, a cargo building for agency duties, a port service building for users, a modern firefighting unit, CCTV installation, a modern wash block, a 100-tonne capacity weight machine, and a modern drainage system.
The inauguration was attended by Additional Secretary to the Shipping Ministry Deloara Begum, Chairman of Bangladesh Land Port Authorities Mohammad Manjarul Mannan, and senior officials from the port and district.