Speaking to a FBCCI delegation led by its President Abdul Awal Mintoo recently en-route to Kolkata, they said as Sonali Bank is giving the treasury service facility for the government, a local clearing house would help avoid risk of carrying cash and waste of time in releasing goods.

They also emphasised the need for expanding and improving the infrastructure of the land port while much of its handling capacity and revenue potentials remained compromised from informal cross border trade.

According to local business sources, at least 30 major smuggling cross points, besides as many small others are operating around this major land port that takes the load of about 80 per cent of imports by road from India.

The local sources explained the operation of some major routes saying their merchandise come to the main Jessore-Benapole road at different collection points for final transportation to Dhaka.