Importers will now pay duties directly to govt exchequer

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Jasim Uddin Haroon
The country's importers will now pay duties and other levies directly to the government exchequer, official sources said.
The decision on the step was taken at a meeting between National Board of Revenue (NBR) officials and representatives of customs clearing and forwarding agents association held at the port city Tuesday. The decision was made effective immediately, the sources said.
Earlier, the importers had to pay different customs and port charges to the national exchequer through the customs clearing and forwarding agents.
There has been an allegation that the clearing and forwarding agents used to take much higher amount than the actual charges and duties from the importers.
It is widely believed that such unethical practices in connivance with port and customs officials contribute to the price rise of imported goods and machinery.
The government set a target to earn Tk 120 billion this fiscal from different customs levies only from Chittagong port. Besides, the Chittagong port earns around Tk 9.0 billion annually from different other charges.
In the meantime, the customs clearing and forwarding association issued a notice Wednesday to its members asking not to take any government duty on behalf of the importers.
President of Chittagong Customs Clearing and Forwarding Agents Association (CCCFAA) Akter Hossain told the FE that the new system would help curb the unethical practices by the unscrupulous clearing and forwarding firms.
"It's a good news for the external trade. I think importers will be benefited by the new system," he added.
He also said there will be a positive reflection in the prices of imported essential commodities following the new system of duty payment.
Feroj Ahmed, one senior official at the Freight Express Limited, a C&F firm, said that a number of firms used to charge at least Tk 30,000 in addition to usual duties for each consignment from the importers.
"The new step taken by the government and C&F firms is praiseworthy. But, I think it will be tough for the small firms to make direct payment," he added.