Bhurungamari (Kurigram) Correspondent

Sonhat Land Port started its journey as the 18th land port of the country in 2013 at Bhurungamari Upazila in Kurigram.

Since its inception, the Land Port has been recognized as a port with huge potential for revenue generation. Even though the infrastructure of this port has been built, the import-export and business trade is not expanding due to the non-operation of immigration.

Even after 10 long years, businessmen are suffering financially and the government is losing revenue due to non-implementation of the immigration system. Although the concerned authorities have repeatedly assured about the launch of immigration, the immigration has not been launched yet. Therefore, local businessmen along with the port officials have demanded to start immigration at this port soon.

It has been reported that the Sonahat land port was launched on September 4, 2013 for the import and export of goods from India and Bangladesh with the famous Seven Sister states including Assam and Meghalaya. At that time, the Sonahat land port was launched, but in 2016, the construction of the port infrastructure was started on 14.68 acres of land.

At present, a warehouse with a capacity of 600 metric tons, a parking yard of 96,000 square feet, an open stockyard of 95,000 square feet, two restrooms for workers, an administrative building and a two-story dormitory building have been constructed at this port.

The 18th land port in the country was built to import 10 products from India and export all products from Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is allowed to import 10 products and export all Bangladeshi products except prohibited products. Imported products are: stone, coal, fresh fruits, maize, wheat, rice, dal, ginger, onion and garlic.

However, even though the port has been operational for a long time, only coal and stone are being imported so far. Besides, few products are exported. Due to this, about 12 crores of revenue is being collected annually.

Port traders complain that business relations with India are being disrupted due to non-operational immigration. Along with being harassed in communication. In addition, import-export activities are sometimes closed. About 3 thousand workers are affected.

Abul Hossain and Mizanur Rahman, businessmen of the port, said that only because there is no immigration, they have to travel 450 kilometers to meet the businessmen. As a result, urgent business talks are often not possible.

Abdur Razzak, General Secretary of Sonahat Land Port Import-Export Association said

If the immigration starts, the communication of the people of the northern region with Bhutan along with the seven sister states of India will be facilitated.

Sarkar Raqib Ahmed Jewel, President of C&F Agents Association of the Port said, if immigration is started, the people of both countries will benefit and relations will improve. Apart from this, besides increasing the scope of business, the revenue of the government will increase.

Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saidul Arif said, the government is preparing to start immigration at Sonahat land port. Now immigration will be launched soon after the decision of the ministries of the two countries.

The Deputy Commissioner said that all the immigration infrastructure is in the middle of our preparations.