Benapole served as the headquarters of sector 8 in the liberation war.
Urbanization of Benapole started in the 1990s along the Grand Trunk Road.
Benapole land port is also lucrative for Indian exporters
for its cheaper service and equipment charges.
According to Land Port Authority,
approximately 90 percent of the total imported items from India come through Benapole.
As of 2009, 143 staff including 9 officials and 134 employees are working at the Benapole land port.
Geographically Benapole is a major strategical point for border
trading between India and Bangladesh owing ito its proximity to Kolkata.
In fiscal year 1996-97 revenue realized from Benapole land port was around Taka 5 billion,
at present it is Taka 8.50 billion.
On the Bangladesh-India land border, Benapole is the most important checkpost of Bangladesh
and is operated by the Bangladesh Land Port Authority BLPA.
Primarily Benapole land port was an Land Customs station
and gradually it turned into a Customs Division(1984) and later Custom House(1997) in response to its rising importance as in terms of import volume.
The Petrapole Customs station of India is situated across the border and since 1971(some sources say 1947),
a large number of people have travelled between Bangladesh and India through Benapole Customs/ Land port station.