After four months of suspension, the import of Indian rice has resumed through Benapole land port in Jashore. On Thursday (August 21) night around 9 pm, nine trucks carrying 315 metric tons of rice entered the Benapole port from India.
Abdus Samad, proprietor of the importing company Messrs Haji Musha Karim & Sons, said that since last Tuesday, nine trucks loaded with 315 metric tons of coarse rice had been waiting at India’s Petrapole port for import. On Thursday night at around 9 pm, when the trucks entered Benapole port, the bill of entry was submitted to Benapole Customs, initiating the release process of the rice.
He further mentioned that currently, another 85 trucks of rice are waiting at the Indian port for import. However, the government has not yet published the official list of the total imported rice. The last consignment of Indian rice was imported through Benapole port on April 15 this year.
Shamsur Rahman, president of the Benapole Land Port C&F Agents Association, said, “After a four-month break, rice import has resumed at Benapole port. On the first day of resumption, 315 metric tons of rice arrived in nine trucks, and many more trucks are waiting to be imported.”
Shyamal Kumar Nath, sub-assistant officer of Benapole Plant Quarantine Center, said that samples of the imported rice are being collected for testing and certification, so that clearance can be provided quickly.
