Bangladesh unrest: Alert at India’s largest land port Petrapole, meeting held at Zero Point over safety of truck drivers

On Friday, a group of people on the Bangladeshi side near Petrapole allegedly ventured into the ‘no man’s land’ between India and Bangladesh and chanted anti-India slogans. However, according to sources, the Border Guard Bangladesh controlled the situation promptly. Since truck movements are restricted on Friday, the incident did not affect trade.

However, on Saturday morning, the movement of trucks was stalled for an hour due to fears for the safety of Indian drivers and their helpers in Benapole port.

“We are all concerned about the security of truck drivers and helpers who are in Bangladesh, that is, inside the Benapole land port area. Yesterday, a group chanted anti-India slogans at the border,” said Kartik Chakraborty, secretary, Petrapole Clearing Agents Staff Welfare Association, while speaking to The Indian Express over the phone from Petrapole.

“I was present in the meeting at the Zero Point. BSF and Bangladesh Border Guards were also present. I met with trade representatives of Bangladesh. We conveyed our fears to our Bangladeshi counterparts. It was decided that Indian drivers and helpers will not leave the Benapole port area where their trucks are being unloaded. Sometimes they visit local markets to but food and other stuff. Now onwards, if they need food or water, or anything else, they will contact us and we will relay it to the authorities in Bangladesh, it was decided in the meeting,” said Chakraborty.

According to Petrapole land port authorities, on average, 80 to 100 Indian goods-laden trucks with drivers are present in Benapole daily. The drivers get passes to visit the Bangladesh side, and they stay in the trucks for two to three days until the goods are unloaded. Later, they return.

Earlier, 550 to 600 Indian trucks used to enter Bangladesh and around 250 trucks used to enter India with goods every day. However, after agitations in Bangladesh since July this year and following trade restrictions, only 200 to 250 trucks enter Bangladesh at present, and about 90 to 100 trucks enter the Indian side daily.

“We are on alert following recent incidents in the neighbouring country. Petrapole is a vital infrastructure. We are doing everything that needs to be done for security,” said a senior official of the Border Security Force (BSF).

Since its operationalisation in February 2016, the land port has been witnessing an increasing number of passenger and goods movements. Nearly 30 per cent of land-based trade between India and Bangladesh used to take place through Petrapole before the unrest in Bangladesh.

In 2022-2033, the port saw a total trade of Rs 30,378.47 crore with 1,42,721 cargo truck movements, and 19,37,141 passenger movements. In 2023-2024, the land port saw a total trade of Rs 30,420.92 crore, with 1,45,280 cargo truck movements and 23,48,707 passenger movements.

However, since the agitation began in Bangladesh in July this year, and post-trade restrictions, cargo and passenger movement have dropped sharply in Petrapole.