Export and import through Benapole land port remained suspended since Saturday morning due to a strike by Indian traders. The Indian traders have enforced the strike protesting at the hike of truck parking charge at the integrated check-post in Petropol port. Long tailbacks on both sides of the border have already created following the strike. Nearly 1,000 trucks carrying different goods, including fish, betel leaf, onion and flowers, remained trapped at both land ports due to the strike since morning, said assistant revenue officer of Beanpole check-post Hasabul Islam. The parking charge on four-wheel lorries has been raised to 270 Indian rupee from 80 while that of 16-wheel lorries to 560 rupee from 120. Kartik Chakrabarty, general secretary of Petrapole Clearing & Forwarding Agentd Welfare Association, alleged that the port authorities have suddenly increased its charge on truck parking. The traders will continue the strike until the parking charge is not brought down, he added.
