Rice Imports From India Resume via Benapole After 4 Months

Rice imports from India have resumed through Benapole land port after a four-month suspension.

The first consignment, carried in nine trucks, brought in 315 tonnes of rice around 10:30 pm on Thursday. Samples were immediately collected and tested at the port’s plant quarantine unit, with clearance certificates issued the same night.

The last rice import through Benapole took place on April 15 this year.

According to importers, each kilogram of rice was imported at $0.405, or Tk 51. Additional costs such as transport, taxes, and storage will raise the market price. The nine trucks carrying the initial shipment had been waiting at India’s Petrapole port since Tuesday.

More rice-laden trucks are lined up at Petrapole, with bills of entry already submitted to Benapole Customs for clearance.

The Ministry of Food had earlier invited private-sector applications for rice import permits to help stabilise the domestic market. Applications were accepted between July 23 and August 7, after which approval was granted, allowing imports to resume through Benapole.