Port News

After visiting the port on 21 February 2026, Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam said Mongla is in the government's 180-day priority plan and that import-export activity will be centred around it.

Import and export through Benapole were halted from 25 to 31 May 2026 and restarted on 1 June, with about 3,000 workers back on loading duties.

Reported in May 2025: India limited Bangladeshi readymade garments to Kolkata and Mumbai seaports and barred several goods from northeastern land ports, stranding trucks at Benapole.

Daily import trucks fell from 500-550 to 250-300 and export trucks from about 300 to 150, with 1.24 million tonnes traded in the first eight months of FY2025-26.

Benapole Custom House collected Tk 65.59 billion against a Tk 112.9 billion target in FY2025-26; the NBR has trimmed this year's goal as officials report 130 fraud cases in six months.

A tender notice dated 17 September 2026 seeks contractors for a parking yard, sheds, modern chemical warehouses and other facilities at Benapole, with bids due 2 November.

Cargo movement through Bangladesh's largest land port was suspended in stages from 17 to 24 October 2026 for overlapping holidays, while passenger crossings continued.

Reported in July 2025: the National Board of Revenue added 27 import categories in two phases, letting private ICDs handle 65 types of imported goods.