PMO report alleges rampant rent seeking in Ctg Customs

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Nazmul Ahsan
Importers and exporters are still being subjected to harassment, including payment of bribes, by a section of rent-seeking officials at the Chittagong Customs House (CCH), leading to container congestion in the port, said a report prepared by the department concerned in the Prime Minister's Office.
The speed money collected by the customs staffs of the Chittagong Customs House is distributed among customs officials, the report added.
The report said unholy activities of these officials are contrary to the goals of making the CCH automated.
The report, which has recently been sent to the finance ministry for immediate action, alleged that one particular high official at the CCH being strongly opposed to the CCH automation had been trying to create all sorts of problems. The report suggested immediate punitive action against the official in question.
Citing a number of written allegations, the report said exporters and importers are facing hassles of all sorts at the 'Speed Treasury' section of the CCH if the palms of the on-duty officials are not greased.
The government automated the CCH under public-private partnership in early 2008 with the objective of reducing the hassles faced by businesses and ensuring speed in external trade activities. The exporters and importers or their clearing and forwarding agents are not required to go to each and every table to get their release order ready after automation.
The businessmen now submit assessment notice and duty-chalans at the Speed Treasury to get release order. The imported goods cannot be released from the port without producing customs release order to the port authority, sources said.
The report underscored the need for full automation of the treasury and establishment of a one-stop service counter in the treasury to help contain harassment and corruption.
However, both automation and establishment of the one stop service were facing difficulties due to opposition from within, the report noted.
The National Board of Revenue has earned around Tk 150 billion as duties from the Chittagong Customs in 2008-2009, which is about 80 per cent of the total earnings generated from import duties during the same period, sources said.
Asked, a high official in the Chittagong Customs said, the extent of corruption and harassment have been reduced to a great extent over the last two years. The situation would improve further if full automation and accountability were established in the CCH.