A sharp increase in import duties on fish has significantly reduced fish imports through Benapole Land Port, with traders warning that the move could tighten domestic supply, increase consumer prices, and further reduce government revenue.
Importers said the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has raised the overall duty on imported fish to 70%, up from 46%, making imports substantially more expensive and forcing many businesses to reduce or suspend shipments.
According to Benapole Customs, the duty on imported freshwater fish has increased from Tk 86.10 (approximately USD 0.70) to Tk 131.60 (approximately USD 1.07) per kilogram. The duty on marine fish and Rohu has also risen, from Tk 43.10 (approximately USD 0.35) to Tk 66.10 (approximately USD 0.54) per kilogram.
Traders said the higher duties are likely to reduce fish imports, tighten market supply, and drive up prices. They also warned that declining import volumes could ultimately reduce customs revenue instead of increasing it.
Fish importer Rahmat Ali said demand for Indian fish remains strong in Bangladesh, but the higher duty has made the business far less profitable.
“Many traders have already reduced imports because of the risk of losses,” he said.
Another importer, Saiful Islam, said the revised duty structure has made it extremely difficult to operate profitably.
“If this continues, many small and medium-sized importers will be forced to shut down,” he said.
The slowdown comes as Benapole Customs House is already facing a significant revenue shortfall. In the 2025-26 fiscal year, the customs office collected Tk 6,559 crore (approximately USD 538 million) against a revised target of Tk 11,290 crore (approximately USD 926 million), leaving a shortfall of Tk 4,731 crore (approximately USD 388 million), or about 42%.
Port-related businesses are also feeling the impact. Laborers said fewer fish-laden trucks are arriving at the port, reducing their daily earnings, while transport operators reported a sharp decline in business.
According to Ziaur Rahman, General Secretary of the Benapole Importers and Exporters Association, fish imports had already slowed after customs changed its duty assessment method from cargo weight to the number of truck axles. He said the latest duty increase has further worsened the situation.
Atikuzzaman Sony, President of the Benapole Transport Owners Association, said daily fish imports have fallen from 30–35 truckloads to just four or five, leaving many transport workers without regular employment.
Asawadul Islam, Inspector at the Fish Quarantine and Quality Control Office at Benapole Land Port, said the port used to receive 25–30 truckloads of fish each day before the new budget took effect. Fish imports during the 2025-26 fiscal year were already about 1,000 tonnes lower than the previous year, and he expects imports to decline further under the new duty structure.
Assistant Commissioner of Benapole Customs House Mukta Chowdhury said 12.6 million tonnes of freshwater fish and more than 7.4 million tonnes of marine fish were imported through Benapole during the last fiscal year. Since the new budget came into effect, imports over the past 22 days have totalled 386 tonnes of freshwater fish and 194 tonnes of marine fish.
Importers have urged the government to review the higher import duties, arguing that the current rates are affecting trade, employment, and government revenue while increasing pressure on the domestic fish market.
