Bangladesh Earns 150 Crore from Land Border Travel to India

Bangladesh earned nearly 150 crore taka in revenue from travel-related taxes as 18,59,364 passport holders crossed into India via 16 land ports, including Benapole, during the past year. The total revenue includes travel taxes collected by the Bangladesh government and visa fees paid to the Indian government, which amounted to around 200 crore taka.

According to a report from the Bangladesh Land Ports Authority (BLPA), the majority of travelers, including those going for medical treatment, business, education, and tourism, passed through Benapole, the busiest of the land ports. The total number of international travelers passing through the ports was significantly high, with Benapole alone seeing 11,90,821 passengers traveling to India.

Other land ports such as Vhormra, Hili, and Akhaura also reported notable traffic, with figures ranging from 8,115 to 1,86,629 passengers in the past year. However, several land ports like Dhanuya-Kamalpur and Sonahat showed no passenger traffic due to weak infrastructure and communication links.

Industry leaders are calling for urgent infrastructure improvements to accommodate growing passenger traffic, citing passenger dissatisfaction with the current conditions. They emphasized that enhancing the infrastructure at key ports like Benapole could not only improve the passenger experience but also increase government revenue.

"The current infrastructure is inadequate, leading to inconvenience for travelers," said Shamshur Rahman, President of the Bangladesh C&F Federation. "Improved facilities would boost both passenger travel and revenue for the government."

Benapole, in particular, continues to play a crucial role in international travel and trade. Despite being a busy port, it has faced challenges due to a lack of development. Plans to expand the passenger terminal and improve trade facilities are currently underway.

Experts suggest that the government should also reconsider visa fee increases and explore options to make cross-border travel more accessible to the public.