Heavy rain floods Benapole Land Port, leaving imported goods submerged
Port authorities have been using power pumps to drain the water, while officials and port users inspected the affected areas today.
Continuous heavy rainfall over the past two days has caused severe waterlogging at Benapole Land Port, leaving imported goods submerged in several storage sheds and raising concerns among traders over financial losses.
Although there was no fresh rainfall this morning (11 July), water remained accumulated in five storage sheds near Gate No. 3 of the country's largest land port, with imported goods standing in knee-deep water in some places.
Port authorities and traders visited the affected sheds today, while power pumps were being used to remove the accumulated water.
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Importers and exporters blamed inadequate drainage and poor water management for the recurring problem.
They said that despite the construction of modern sheds, yards and other infrastructure, ineffective drainage causes waterlogging even after moderate rainfall, leaving imported goods damaged and businesses facing financial losses.
They also said traders receive no compensation for damaged goods because the cargo is not insured.
Benapole Customs C&F agent Mafizur Rahman Sojon said port users' organisations have repeatedly raised concerns over various management shortcomings, but the port authority has failed to address them.
He also alleged that a committee formed to resolve the drainage problem has produced no visible results, leaving more than 100 importers facing heavy losses.
Benapole Import-Export Association Vice-President Aminul Haque Anu said the problem stems from unplanned development and the absence of an effective drainage system.
He said the government collects around Tk10,000 crore in annual direct and indirect customs revenue from Benapole, yet traders' repeated complaints about rainwater damaging imported goods have not resulted in any effective measures.
Benapole Land Port Deputy Director Kazi Ratan said continuous rainfall had caused water to enter several storage sheds, damaging imported goods.
He said power pumps were being used to drain the water, although the work had been slowed by the prolonged rainfall. He expressed hope that the situation would return to normal once the rain stopped.
According to the Meteorological Office at Bangladesh Air Force Jahore, 215mm of rainfall was recorded over two days, including 190mm between early Thursday and Friday noon, and another 25mm between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning
