Customs finds DPRK diplomats\' duty default

Importing goods by a number of diplomats at the North Korean embassy in Dhaka without paying duty caused serious concern to government's revenue authority, officials said.
Such alleged duty dodging is seen as a violation of the customs law of Bangladesh.
Customs intelligence has found a number of products imported by the embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) without declaration.   
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) recently wrote to the ministry of foreign affairs to bring the customs-related irregularities to government's notice and take necessary action.
The customs intelligence and auction wing of the board sent a letter to the foreign secretary. The request has been sent following concern of the Director General (DG) of the customs intelligence and investigation directorate.
He noted with concern the "irregularities" by some of the diplomats and sent details about that to senior secretary and chairman of the NBR Nojibur Rahman.
Talking to the FE, a customs official said, "The customs wing has sought intervention of the foreign ministry following three major incidents related to customs-law violation by diplomats of North Korea."
Last month, a customs-intelligence team found illegally imported 8,099 cartons of foreign cigarettes and electronic products worth Tk 35 million.
Earlier, some of the diplomats of the Asian country were found in gold smuggling and import of products without declaration.
The customs team also found illegally imported liquors and drugs in Dhaka's Pyongyang restaurant, owned by North Korean citizens, apart from other incidents.
As per Vienna Convention 1961, Article 41, all diplomats are bound to follow the law of the country where they work. Article 42 says no diplomats will be allowed to involve in business or commercial activity for their personal gains.  
According to the United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution 2270 (2016), article 18, there is a rule for inspecting the cargo that would be imported for diplomats. Article 13 of the same resolution empowers the government to send the diplomats into exile in case of not abiding by the law.
As an important member of the UN, Bangladesh follows the rules of the Security Council.
The customs intelligence directorate sees such acts as tantamount to violation of the country's law. "The ministry of foreign affairs may be requested to take necessary action against the diplomats," it said.
Despite several attempts, spokesperson for the North Korean mission couldn't be reached for comment.
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