FROM PAGE 12

Energypac Fashions Ltd has three containers of garments items -- shipped two days ago -- now stuck at Benapole. The combined value of the goods in the three containers is over $300,000, he said.

Rashid, who has been exporting to India for over seven years, said nearly 10 percent of his factory’s products are meant for the Indian market. He now fears further disruptions to shipments bound for Nepal via Indian land ports and hopes for an amicable solution.

Kabir Ahmed, president of the Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association, said exports to India would initially face disruption due to the restrictions, but trade flows would eventually shift to air and sea routes.

However, he warned that transport costs could rise by at least 20 percent due to the rerouting of shipments, and that trade through informal channels would inevitably decline.

“It is difficult, but we can overcome these challenges,” he said.

In Jashore, exports through Benapole land port have also come to a halt following the restrictions. The land port is one of the country’s largest and is dedicated entirely to exports.

“Normally, around 200–300 goods-laden trucks would cross the border daily,” said Mamun Tarafder, deputy director of the port. “But only 151 trucks passed through the port on Monday [till 5:30pm].”

He added that the 36 trucks stranded at the port till yesterday had to leave the premises after failing to cross the border.

During a visit to the port yesterday, trading activities were seen subdued. Customs stations, clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents, and transport workers had little to do, while many traders expressed concerns over the future of their businesses.

“If this situation continues, our entire export chain will collapse,” warned Emdadul Haque Lota, general secretary of the C&F Agents Association.