Revenue income at Benapole land port has largely declined in the
fiscal year 2012-13 due to various reasons, including alleged
harassment at the customs house and rise in smuggling.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) had set a target of Tk2,620 crore
revenue earning from Benapole port for the outgoing fiscal, whereas
the customs authorities realised Tk2,169.96 crore revenue during the
period, which is Tk 450.04crore less than the target.
Importers alleged that the customs authorities often harass them now
as they are forced to use Hili, Sona Masjid and Bhomra land ports
instead of Benapole port.
They also said that the traders mostly get unnecessarily harassed by
the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members. As a result, they are being
forced to use other ports or to import goods in an illegal way.
As smuggling has increased, BGB members seized contraband items worth
Tk 25 crore from different border points in the last one month.
Akbar Hossain, joint commissioner-2 of THE Benapole customs house,
said import through the land port has decreased due to strict
monitoring for checking tax evasion.
Big importers are using other ports for importing goods due to
frequent workers’ strike, hartals and traffic jam at Benapole port, he
added. -UNB, Benapole
