On the Bangladesh-India land border,
Benapole land port is the most important land port of Bangladesh and is operated by the
Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA). About 90% of the imported Indian goods enter Bangladesh through this port. Geographically, Benapole is a major strategic point for border trading between India and Bangladesh owing to its proximity to
Kolkata. Primarily Benapole land port was a Land Customs station and gradually it turned into a Customs Division (1984) and later Custom House (1997) in response to its rising importance in terms of import volume. As of 2009, 143 staff, including 9 officials and 134 employees, are working at the Benapole land port. In fiscal year 1996-97, revenue realized from Benapole land port was around
Taka 5 billion, at present, it is Taka 8.50 billion. Benapole land port is also lucrative for Indian exporters for its cheaper service and equipment charges. Indian goods receive a duty exemption advantage in this land port. The Indian government has also decided to give priority to export in Bangladesh through the Benapole-Petrapole border.
Kolkata, one of the commercial hubs of India, is only 80 kilometers away from the Petrapole-Benapole border and is involved in development in the area. Benapole had witnessed a rise of imports by 15 – 20 percent each year. It has become a significant revenue generator for the government since the late 1980s. However, port facilities remain under-developed as yet. The carrying capacity of the road from Benapole to Jessore is limited, not withstanding regular maintenance. A two-member consultant team of the
Asian Development Bank (ADB) is working to sort out improvement areas in the immigration and customs of the land port and also studying the feasibility of the Benapole-Petropole border as a corridor of transit in this South Asian region. ==Demographics==