Customs moves to expedite release of stuck-up goods from godowns

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Doulot Akter Mala The customs authorities have moved to expedite release of stuck-up products from its godowns across the country after it found 30 years old products in unresolved position at a customs station. In an inspection, a high-powered team of the customs department has identified the poor management of stuck-up goods. They found that many of the products have lost their quality due to delay in releasing those. Following the mismanagement, customs member (customs export and bond) Md Nasir Uddin recently sent a letter to all customs house commissioners across the country to furnish details of products that are stuck up in their respective customs houses. The letter, dated February 18, has instructed the customs commissioners to send the information within next ten days. Talking to the FE, Nasir Uddin said it is important to release stuck-up products within a short time and expedite audit activities in a bid to realise government revenue. "We are giving priority to this sector as we've found that many products are damaged in the customs godowns due to delay in release or auction," he said. Officials said those damaged products are polluting environment of the storage of the customs houses. The government is also losing revenue due to unusual delay in releasing stuck-up products. The letter also directed to expedite the release of products from customs storages in a short time following the existing law of customs storages. Customs officials fear that many of the storages have such stuck-up products as in the inspected storages. The customs wing sought seven types of information from the customs houses including description of stuck-up products, quantity, condition of products according to charge report and settlement of products. According to the existing law, customs authorities can auction products coming through ships within 30 days while those brought by plane within 21 days. For perishable goods, customs officials can auction stuck-up products immediately. Customs officials keep some sample products before putting all in auction as sometimes court orders to submit those to resolve disputes between businessmen and customs officials.