Customs Commissionerate earns Tk 5.29b revenue in NW-region

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RAJSHAHI, Apr 21 (BSS): The Commissionerate of Customs, Excise and VAT earned revenue of Tk 5.29 billion from the country's northwestern region during the first nine months of the current fiscal. Officials said the revenue collection from the internal sources was Tk 3.77 billion against the target of Tk 3.92 billion until March while the earning from the imports was Tk 1.52 billion against the target of Tk 3.0 billion. The sources said the revenue target fixed by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for the Commissionerate from the internal sources like Excise Duty, Supplementary Duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) and imports like import tax, regulatory duty, auction and fine was Tk 6.92 billion until March last. The earning from the internal sources was up by Tk 373.10 million from the previous 2009-2010 fiscal showing a growth of 10.99 per cent. But, on an average, the total collection from the internal and import sources was down by 14.65 per cent to reach the target during the same period. Talking to the news agency, Customs Commissioner Lutfor Rahman said that the total target of Tk 9.89 billion fixed for the current fiscal could be attained in the next three months as various effective measures had been undertaken. Apart from this, he said automation system is gradually being introduced in the revenue collection process. He said the revenue from the import sources mainly came from the region's four main land ports-Sona Masjid, Hilli, Burimari and Banglabandha and 11 cattle corridors. Sona Masjid Land Port alone earned around Tk 902.70 million despite facing manifold problems especially in infrastructure and modern information and communication technology. There is scope of increasing the revenue earning at least by four folds from the current volume if the existing problems are reduced, he added. Meanwhile, he said the revenue earning from the cattle corridors has been enhanced to a greater extent with the sharp rise in cattle import for the last couple of months. He, however, said the land port charges in all the ports in the region are 50 per cent higher than that of the Benapole Landport which discourages many importers in using the northern ports. Mr Rahman said revenue of around Tk 3.19 billion remained outstanding with various business institutions and individuals due to 242 cases pending in the courts under VAT and Customs Laws.