Teknaf Land Port Shut for 9 Months, Revenue Loss Over Tk 300 Crore

The Teknaf land port in Cox’s Bazar has remained closed for import-export activities for nine consecutive months, resulting in a revenue loss of more than Tk 300 crore, according to relevant authorities. The prolonged closure has not only reduced government revenue significantly but has also led to a sharp rise in cross-border smuggling. Thousands of workers and traders dependent on the port have suffered severe economic hardship, with some reportedly turning to criminal activities out of desperation. The port authority is incurring a monthly loss of around Tk 40 lakh.

Traders say that unless the ongoing crisis is resolved quickly and import-export operations resume, the situation will deteriorate further, putting the government under additional pressure from large-scale revenue shortfalls.

Meanwhile, the Teknaf Customs Authority has made six recommendations to address the problem, including intensified diplomatic talks with the Myanmar government, formation of a joint task force to curb smuggling and ensure peaceful trade, regular consultation with local chambers, importers, exporters and C&F agents, preparation of a new profitable product list under the border trade agreement by excluding risky or banned items, trial reopening of the port on a limited scale, and sustained media and public awareness campaigns.

According to Customs data, revenue collection at the Teknaf land port stood at Tk 640 crore in the 2022–23 fiscal year. It dropped to Tk 404 crore in 2023–24, resulting in a shortfall of Tk 236 crore. In the first nine months of the current 2024–25 fiscal year, revenue has fallen to around Tk 110 crore — indicating a loss of more than Tk 300 crore compared to previous years.

Customs official Mahmudur Rahman told The Daily Campus that due to various complications, port activities have been suspended since April this year. Discussions are ongoing at the highest levels between the governments of the two countries. He expressed hope that revenue collection will increase again once normalcy returns.

According to port records, the last import consignments from Myanmar in April included rice, pulses, maize, beans, ginger, garlic, soybean oil, palm oil, onions and fish. Trade activities were halted thereafter due to security concerns on the Myanmar side at both government and non-government levels.

This has pushed thousands of port-dependent workers into economic crisis, with many reportedly engaging in risky smuggling activities. The influx of smuggled goods in the market is also causing further revenue loss for the government.

Enamul Hasan, an import-export trader at the Teknaf land port, said the government is losing thousands of crores in revenue annually due to the closure. The port is the main source of livelihood for locals. With income sources cut off, many are turning to illegal means. He urged the government to reopen the port without delay.

Port labour leader Abul Hashim said workers have been living in inhuman conditions for nine months. Everyone is anxiously waiting for the day when import-export operations will resume.

Teknaf Land Port Director Mohammad Jasim Uddin Chowdhury told The Daily Campus that port activities have been suspended since 12 April this year due to security concerns. The authority is spending Tk 35 to 40 lakh per month with no income. “We are facing immense difficulty in bearing this expenditure. Unless the security concerns are resolved, solving this crisis will remain challenging.”