Transport Owners Call Indefinite Strike at Benapole Port

Due to the lack of adequate cranes and forklifts at Benapole in Jashore, the country's largest land port, transportation of goods is being hampered. The Benapole Transport Agency Owners Association has announced an indefinite shutdown of goods' transportation from Tuesday (May 16th) demanding adequate cranes and forklifts.

Azim Uddin Gazi, general secretary of the Benapole Transport Agency Owners Association, confirmed the matter on Sunday (May 15th).

He said that despite Benapole being the largest land port in the country, there are not enough cranes and forklifts for loading and unloading heavy goods. Some of them are good but some of them are spoiled again and again. The crane and forklifts drivers are also incompetent.

That is why it is taking a long time to unload the heavy goods imported in this port. The traders are turning away and going to another port.

He added that this is the reason why they have announced to stop the transportation of goods indefinitely from May 16. He also wrote a letter to Mamun Kabir Tarafdar (Traffic), deputy director of Benapole Land Port, but he did not take cognizance of the matter.

Benapole Port Deputy Director (Traffic) Mamun Kabir Tarafdar said the port has 6 cranes and 10 forklifts. Some of these cranes and forklifts were damaged. Which is being repaired. The problem will be solved soon.

Nayan, a representative of S Sardar, a trader who uses Benapole port, said that almost all the cranes and forklifts at the port have become useless. The cranes and forklifts that are a little better are also damaged again and again. As a result, 70 of its goods were imported from April 25 to May 10, but only three truckloads of goods were unloaded as the crane was useless. As a result, they have to pay extra truck rent every day. This is causing them losses.

Milton, manager of Black Bengal Enterprise, a crane and forklifts supplier in Benapole port, said PDP (power tower material) angles are currently being imported through Benapole port. As a result, some of their cranes and forklifts equipment were damaged while lifting and dropping these angles. As a result, there are problems in loading and unloading the goods. The port also has three of its six cranes and eight of its 10 forklifts. Two more cranes will be brought in very soon. Damaged cranes and forklifts will be repaired quickly.