Hili Land Port has exported over 3,125 tons of goods to India in three months from June to early September this year, earning nearly Tk 30 crore, according to Nizam Uddin, Revenue Officer at Hili Customs.
A visit to the land port revealed rows of trucks loaded with Bangladeshi products lined up for export.
This shift signals growing demand for Bangladeshi goods in Indian markets and increasing trade activity through the port.
Currently, products being exported include mango-flavored drinks, lychee drinks, soft beverages, sweet toast, jelly, chocolate, choco-bin toffees, fried peas, cotton, rice bran fatty acid and crude rice bran oil.
However, exporters face challenges due to infrastructure constraints, particularly the one-way road system, which limits simultaneous import and export operations.
Rashed, a representative of a local exporting company, said, “Despite the late start, exports have picked up pace and demand for Bangladeshi products in India is strong. If better facilities were available, we could export much more.”
Exporters complain that due to the narrow roads, import and export cannot occur concurrently. “We need a wider road to operate more trucks and increase export volume,” Rashed added.
Operations were also temporarily suspended recently due to Eid-e-Miladunnabi.
Ferdous Rahman, President of Bangla Hili C&F Agents Association, emphasized the potential for exporting more than just drinks and bakery items. “Bangladeshi vegetables have high demand in India. However, lack of a quarantine office on the Indian side of the port restricts us from exporting perishable goods,” he said.
He urged the governments of both countries to resolve the logistical and administrative issues through dialogue, noting that increased exports could significantly boost foreign exchange earnings for Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Customs official Nizam Uddin confirmed the positive trend, “Compared to previous years, export volumes have grown significantly. We're providing full cooperation to exporters and the variety of products going to India has increased substantially.”
As Bangladesh pushes for greater export diversification, Hili Land Port is emerging as a key gateway to Indian market; pending infrastructural improvements and bilateral coordination.
MRM/SH
