The clearing process of commercial and industrial goods at Mongla sea port is taking almost a month in recent times, drawing criticism from the businesses over the increased cost of consumer products.
Businesses as well as the clearing and forwarding agents alleged that the lengthy checking process of all goods by two wings of customs - Mongla customs and customs intelligence -was causing untold sufferings to the genuine businesses.
They threatened to call a strike unless the authorities expedite the clearing process as they have to pay additional store rent, shipping charge and other costs due to the delays.
Following an agitation by the businesses, the Mongla customs authorities held a meeting on Tuesday to resolve the issues.
Sheikh Liakat Hossain, president of Bagerhat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the customs intelligence was taking too much time to conduct analysis of the products causing delays in releasing the goods.
"This is the first time in the history that the businesses are facing such unbearable delays at the Mongla port," he said.
The importers are ready to pay the taxes, even if it increases, but the process of clearing goods should be expedited, he added.
Mongla Customs Clearing and Forwarding Agents Association president Sultan Hossain Khan alleged that the customs intelligence was taking long time in issuing no objection certificate (NOC) and also conducting 100 per cent physical verification of all the products.
"It is taking 15-20 days to get clearances from the customs intelligence which was only 3-4 days earlier," he said.
Talking to the FE, Mongla Customs House commissioner Hussain Ahmed claimed that the extent of irregularities by the importers has increased as the top post of the customs house remained vacant for a long time.
"We have been able to collect Tk 300 million in additional customs duty through the scrutiny," he added.
He said the customs has a plan to introduce a trusted trader programme so that the genuine businesses get their goods released faster.
He informed that no product remained stuck up in the port, but some of the importers were not clearing goods for various reasons, especially sluggish demand in this COVID-19 situation.
For example, many cars were not cleared due to the bearish market. "We do not stop any consignment if the importers pay due duties and taxes," he said.
The importers alleged that the customs intelligence locks the imported goods and gives a long serial for scrutiny.
The office of the customs intelligence is in Khulna city. So, they take time to inspect and analyse goods as they have to go to Mongla port from Khulna.
The Bagerhat chamber president said the commercial and industrial goods were facing the hurdles during the period of last one and a half months.
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