Export growth outpaces imports at Bhomra port

Despite a slight dip in imports, Bhomra Land Port in Satkhira posted robust export growth and boosted government revenue in the 2024-25 fiscal year, highlighting gains in trade value and revenue efficiency.

However, the port’s elevation to a full-fledged customs house has yet to reach its full potential due to the absence of a commissioner.

Currently, Bhomra Land Port facilitates the export of 23 categories of Bangladeshi goods to India, including yarn, jute yarn, ready-made garments, furniture, fishing nets, mosquito nets, handloom sarees, lungis, travel bags, juice, chips, and litchis.

Bangladesh, in turn, brings in food, construction materials, garments, and cosmetics from India via the same route.

Sources at Bhomra Land Customs Station said the port recorded higher revenue in FY25 despite reduced import volumes, generating Tk978.78 crore compared with Tk907.59 crore the previous year.

The 7.84% rise in revenue reflects a shift toward higher-value imports and more effective duty collection.
Exports through Bhomra climbed to Tk3,406.95 crore in FY25, transported by 22,937 vehicles and weighing 286,130 tonnes.

This compares with Tk3,090.63 crore in export earnings in FY24, marking a year-on-year growth of 10.23% and underscoring the port’s growing role in cross-border trade with India.

As a result, the port’s operational expansion and import diversification remain stalled.
Meanwhile, the suspension of rice imports and a sharp decline in cargo traffic have hit port activity hard.

Daily truck movements have fallen from 250-300 vehicles to around 150, leaving hundreds of port workers unemployed and creating economic hardship for labourers and service providers.