Around half a lakh people travelled between Bangladesh and India in the fiscal year 2022-23 through Bibir Bazar land port in Cumilla which is the highest since the inception of its operations.
At the same time, the import-export activities of the country have increased through the port. As a result, the government has earned Taka 4 crore as revenue from the port this year. Port officials said the travel time is less and the port has set a new record in passenger traffic due to its convenient location.
The land port started its operations in 2009, sources said, adding: "The port is eight kilometres away from Cumilla town. It takes just half an hour to drive from Cumilla. On the other hand, its distance from Agartala, capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Tripura, is 61 km."
According to the Bibir Bazar land and customs station sources, Bibi Bazar is the 13th land port in the country. Cement, coal, soft drinks, iron, stone, soap, plastic doors, PVC pipes, tins, plastic ropes, biscuits and brick breakers have been exported through the land port while Agarbatti, maize, ginger, wheat, rice, cumin and various spices imported.
According to the information provided by the port, a total of 57,084 tonnes of commodities were exported through this port in 2018-2019 while 1,37,556 tonnes of commodities were exported in the fiscal year 2020-2021.
Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate Officer Kazi Toihida Akter said passenger traffic and import-export are higher during winter compared to other seasons of the year.
