Export activities at Hili Land Port have picked up pace in recent months, bringing in over Tk30 crore in revenue from June to early September. Officials say the surge in exports of Bangladeshi products to India is helping boost foreign exchange earnings while opening up new trade opportunities.
Revenue Officer Md Nizam Uddin of Hili Customs confirmed the figures, noting that a total of 3,225 tonnes of locally produced goods were exported during this period. “Exports through Hili have increased significantly compared to previous years. Earlier only a few products were sent, but now many more are going to India,” he said.
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Among the items currently being exported are mango and litchi drinks, soft drinks, sweet toast, jelly, chocolate, Chocobin toffee, fried peas, cotton, rice bran fatty acid, and rice bran crude oil. Plant Quarantine Department official Md Yusuf Ali added that demand for Bangladeshi food and beverage items in India is growing rapidly.
Exporters also welcomed the revival of shipments through Hili. Shamim Hasan, representing an exporting company, said: “Now, we are exporting many products daily to India. With more government facilities, exporters could expand shipments even further.”
However, traders pointed out several challenges that need urgent attention. The narrow one-way road at the port limits the number of trucks that can pass at a time, slowing both import and export activities. In addition, the absence of a quarantine office on the Indian side prevents the export of Bangladeshi vegetables, despite strong demand.
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Md Ferdous Rahman, President of the Hili C&F Agents Association, urged the government to take steps to address these issues through infrastructure upgrades and bilateral discussions. “If these barriers are resolved, Bangladesh can export more products and earn higher foreign exchange,” he said.
With trade through Hili port showing strong signs of revival, exporters remain hopeful that timely government action will turn the growth into a sustained revenue boost for the country.