In April 1971, the operational area of the sector 8 comprised the districts of Kushtia, Jessore, Khulna, Barisal, Faridpur and Patuakhali.

[1] Geographically Benapole is a major strategic point for border trading between India and Bangladesh owing to its proximity to Kolkata.

According to Land Port Authority, approximately 90 percent of the total imported items from India come through Benapole.

[2][failed verification] As of 2009, 143 staff including 9 officials and 134 employees are working at the Benapole land port.

[citation needed] Benapole land port is also lucrative for Indian exporters for its cheaper service and equipment charges.

Kolkata, one of the commercial hubs of India, is only 80 kilometers away from the Petrapole-Benapole border and is involved in development in the area.

A two-member consultant team of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is working to sort out improvement areas in the immigration and customs of the land port and also studying feasibility of Benapole-Petropole border as a corridor of transit in this South Asian region.