Be rational, cautious in imposing penalty

The customs wing of National Board of Revenue (NBR) has pointed out discrepancies in imposing penalties on importers and exporters by officials concerned in recent times for violation of customs law.
As a result, the wing recently issued an instruction to all customs houses across the country to be rational and cautious in imposition of penalty for thwarting false declaration and irregularities at customs points.
The customs department has pointed out three inconsistencies in imposition of penalties under Section 156 of Customs Act, 1969.
The wing found that the customs houses are avoiding imposition of 'preventive penalty' that could encourage businesses for false declaration, under-invoicing and other offences. It also detected discriminatory penalties on same kind of offences on the basis of persons involved.
The customs wing also found irrational penalties in case of repetition of customs-related offences that caused loss of revenue.
Officials said the letter has been issued to ensure imposition of adequate penalties, in a rational way, to check false declaration and other customs-related offences.
"It is necessary to impose penalties on rational and preventive way. Also, similar types of offences should be punished with similar scale of penalties," the letter said.
The customs wing sent the letter to the customs commissioners in Dhaka, Chittagong, Mongla and Benapole, ICDs at Kamalapur and Pangoan, and Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerates in Dhaka North, East, West, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Jessore, Khulna, Sylhet, Rangpur and Comilla.   
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