Burimari land port falls short of revenue target

LALMONIRHAT, Dec 24: Revenue collection of Burimari land port in the past two fiscal years (FYs) --2021-22 and 2022-23--has fallen short of the targets and even in the current FY 2023-24 also braces for a shortfall of the kind for various reasons.
The port authorities attributed the revenue deficit for the past two consecutive fiscal years and very likely that in the current year to the unebbing dollar crisis and the prevailing political turmoil.
Burimari is the second largest land port of the country located in the northern part of Bangladesh.
Traders only import various stones and hard rocks through this port from neighboring countries India and Bhutan. Apart from these, maize, seeds and some other goods are also brought in through the port. The main source of revenue is mainly various stones.
Authorities said in the fiscal year 2021-22 the port earned Tk919.2 million (Tk91.92 core) revenue against its target of Tk1.37 billion (Tk137.83 core).
For the FY 2022-23, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) set a revenue target of Tk131.82 and the port earned Tk 946 million (94.60 core). In the current fiscal--2023-24, the port earned Tk324.6 million (32.46 cores) in the first five months till November.
In July of the FY 2022-23, the total number of foreign trucks (Indian) that entered the port was 6,541, in August 8,142 trucks entered, in September 7,735 trucks, in October 5,608 trucks, in November 8,672 trucks while a total of 36,698 trucks entered at the same time of the current FY 2023-24.
There is a trinational connectivity --India-Bhutan-Nepal-- that can play a significant role in the foreign trades and economic growth. But due to lack of proper policy and plan, Burimari land port cannot play its expected role in the economic growth.
Port sources said mainly stones are being imported from Bhutan and India through this port.
The taxes for Bhutan stones are comparatively lower than those for the Indian stones.
In recent time's high inflation, dollar crisis affected foreign trades said an official of the port.
Ruhul Amin Babul, president of the Importers and Exporters Association of Burimari land port, said mainly acute crisis of dollar is the main reason for the decrease in revenue income.
In 2021-22, the pandemic situation was the main reason but in recent time unavailability of dollars, its high price and the banks' reluctance to open LCs affected imports highly, he added.
Saidul Islam, deputy commissioner (DC) of Burimari land port, said various stones are mainly imported through Burimari port. Apart from stones, a few duty-free goods are exported and imported to and from Bhutan through this port. In recent time, global recession, high inflation and dollar crisis have been the main causes for decreased revenue earnings.
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