The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has written to the ministry of shipping (MoS) about duty dodging on imports at ports and sought joint action against such racketeering to raise revenues, officials said.
"Revenue collection will be increased and transparent when cooperation between the port and customs authorities becomes more intensive and proficient," said NBR chairman Nojibur Rahman in a recent letter to shipping secretary Shafique Alam Mehdi.
The NBR chairman also emphasised the need for ensuring security of imported goods efficiently to help raise revenue receipts.
He reminded that the port authority has the obligation to submit documents of all imported goods to the customs authority accordingly.
"There is a scope for seeking explanation if any negligence is found in this case," the letter reads.
Mr Rahman alleged that the port authorities had shown negligence in ensuring security of imported goods. And, in some cases, "accurate statistics of imported goods are not found".
"Besides, the records of vehicles and ship-based imported goods are not being given to the customs authority despite the obligation to provide those at some intervals," he added.
Citing some sources, the NBR chairman said vested quarters in connivance with a section of dishonest port staffs take delivery of goods without paying duties and taxes, causing revenue loss to government exchequer.
Besides, he further alleged, the port authorities delay handover of goods for auction. This happens, sometimes, because of negligence of officials from both the customs and the ports.
Seeking cooperation to eliminate such offences, Mr Rahman requested the shipping secretary to ask the port operators to take necessary action so that no goods can go out from the seaports without payment of duties and taxes.
He also sought security of goods in ports and closer cooperation and coordination among the customs and port authorities as a measure for plugging such duty drain.
The revenue board chief expressed his intention to visit the ports together with the shipping secretary to intensively monitor the activities of customs and port authorities.
When contacted, Mr Mehdi told the FE Sunday that port and customs officials jointly work in the country's land and seaports.
"Cooperation from both ends is needed to raise revenue collection," he said.
Mr Mehdi said he would soon start visiting ports with the NBR chairman for further enhancing cooperation among the two government departments vital for mobilising revenues to support the nation's budget.
He, however, wouldn't comment on the NBR allegation of non-cooperation by port officials and delivering out import cargos without taxes.
   syful-islam@outlook.com
NBR complains about duty dodging on imports at ports
Syful Islam | Published: March 16, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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