Customs intelligence suspects duty dodging through smuggling and overstuffing of luggage by passengers of the Maitree express train owing to inadequate logistics and customs-security measures.
It has proposed that the revenue board strengthen security measures in luggage transportation on the cross-border train on the Dhaka-Kolkata route.
"Luggage should be transported on the Maitree train in separate and specific coach and must enter the country in sealed way," Director-General of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate Dr Moinul Khan wrote in a letter to the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
Customs checking should be completed at the last arrival station of the train in Bangladesh, he said.
Customs officials should accompany the railway police at the time of ensuring security of the sealed carriage, he wrote.
Baggage of the passengers should be scanned following risk-management procedure similar to airport, the letter reads.
The customs intelligence directorate proposed a joint meeting with the railway ministry, railway police and Jessore customs commissionerate to take necessary steps following the proposal.
The proposals came after customs intelligence team several times had seized different illegally imported products.
Currently, customs checking of the passengers of the Maitree train is done at Darshana rail station on the Bangladesh side of the border.
The customs intelligence found the station lacking in necessary infrastructure and manpower to conduct customs checking. Also, a very short time of stoppage of train is another reason for improper checking.
The customs team also alleged that train driver sometimes connives with the smugglers in escape with the unauthorized goods by slowing down the speed of train in- between Darshana and Dhaka.
On November 28 last year, the customs confiscated saris, three-piece, shawal, sweater, plain cloth, cut-piece worth Tk 32,70,000 from Dhaka Cantonment rail station.
On January 02, 2016, in a joint move, customs seized saris, three-piece, lehanga, Panjabi sets, Kashmiri Shawl, Shisha Tobacco, Cigarettes, Cigarette paper worth Tk 12 million from Darshana station.
Of late, on October 04, a team seized 140 pieces of sari, Panjabi and imitation jewellery (total 76 baggage).
Maitree express train is a Dhaka-Kolkata train service. It is gaining popularity in Indo-Bangla communications.
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