The revenue board is going to procure some 14 new scanners at an estimated cost of Tk 5.0 billion to check duty evasion through under-invoicing and misdeclaration.
Only four scanners are now in operation in Chittagong customs house while a minimum of 12 devices is required to scan export-import products in Chittagong port.
The Finance Bill-2019 has incorporated a provision of non-intrusive inspection to bring all consignments under mandatory electronic scanning.
As stipulated, all consignments, unless exempted by an official order, must go through e-scanning before releasing from customs ports.
On many occasions, finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal stressed the need for scanning all export and import products at ports electronically.
Currently, Chittagong port has five scanners, Benapole land port two and Mongla port and Kamalapur inland container depot one each.
However, a senior Chittagong customs house official said only four out of five scanners are in full operation in the seaport.
Another two scanners have already been procured and are waiting to be installed there soon.
He said the number of existing scanners is not adequate to bring all export-import consignments under the non-intrusive inspection system.
"At least 12 scanners at all 12 gates of Chittagong port are required to clear export-import consignments," the official told the FE.
The largest customs house of the country is not able to scan a large portion of the consignments due to inadequate number of scanners, he added.
Of the new 14 scanners, five will be fixed at five port gates and the remaining nine at other sea, land and air ports, and major land customs stations.
The customs authorities have already got approval from Mr Kamal to procure the devices with government funds.
This week, the customs modernisation wing of the National Board of Revenue will float a bid to buy the scanners with two years' maintenance service, said an official.
Non-intrusive inspection will help reduce the hassle of importers and exporters during physical examinations of their goods.
Any delay in the release of goods often increases the cost of doing business, posing a threat to trade facilitation.
Although the scanners will be installed to expedite customs clearances, officials said, customs will conduct physical inspections of some consignments on the basis of risk factors for duty evasion.
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