TDS Desk:

After two days of suspension, traders have resumed import of fruits through Benapole land port.

A total of 40 trucks carrying fruits imported from India’s Petrapole land port arrived within one and half hours on Thursday morning, said Sushanta Pal, Joint Commissioner of Benapole Customs House.

Fruit import was suspended through Benapole land port for an indefinite period from February 4, protesting the government’s decision to impose additional import duties.

To meet the domestic demand for fruits, importers have decided to resume fruit imports from Thursday.

Due to higher import costs, vendors in the open market have raised prices.

The price of fruits in the market has increased by 50-70 taka per kilogram due to a two-day halt in fruit imports.

Earlier, the customs authorities imposed a 20% supplementary duty and the government collected Tk 101 per kg from imported fruit as revenue.

On January 9, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) issued a new directive, increasing the supplementary duty on fruit imports by 10%, bringing it to 30%. As a result, the duty per kilogram has increased by 15 taka, reaching 116 taka.

Mohsin Millon, president of the Benapole Import and Export Association, said that the halt in fruit imports through Benapole land port over the past two days caused a significant price surge in the domestic market.

To keep the price of fruits at an affordable rate, traders have decided to resume fruit imports.

The importers also threatened to suspend import of fruits in all land ports if the increased duty is not withdrawn by February 14.

Sushanta Pal, Joint Commissioner of Benapole Customs House, confirmed that after the two-day suspension, fruit imports resumed today (Thursday). All concerned parties have been notified to expedite the release of the imported fruit consignments.