Govt slaps scanning fee for export-import containers
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Doulot Akter Mala
Exporters and importers will have to bear the cost of inspection of their goods at the Chittagong seaport after the authorities slapped a fee of US$5.0 on scanning every container.
The fees would come into effect in the current month after finance minister AMA Muhith approved a National Board of Revenue (NBR) proposal last week, an official said Monday.
The NBR said the scanning charges have been imposed to raise the maintenance and operational cost of the scanners the authorities have installed early this month.
The board has set up a total of four scanners and 10 radiation detection equipment recently amid mounting pressures from the western countries in the wake of global fight against terrorism.
The machines, which have already started scanning import-export containers, were funded by the Asian Development Board (ADB) under the board's 'Chittagong Port Facilitation Project, the official said.
The NBR expects to raise Tk 350 million annually by scanning more than 1.0 million containers being handled by the port every year.
Chittagong is the country's largest sea-port, accounting for some $37 billion worth of foreign trade in the last fiscal year. Container handling at the port has been growing at around 15 per cent a year since 2002.
Board officials said installation of scanners has removed a key obstacle to the country's foreign trade.
"Exporters have long been demanding scanners to check containers before shipment, which is a pre-condition to export in the US market. They don't mind if they have to bear the scanning cost," another official said.
Garments exporters alleged that very often they have to wait at least one month to scan their containers at customs entry points in ports in America, the largest market for Bangladeshi products.
Bangladesh Garment Exporters and Manufacturers Association (BGMEA) first vice president Nasiruddin Chowdhury hailed the government's move.
"We are pleased to contribute $5.0 as scanning charge because it will save us a lot of time and hassles in customs clearing points in western countries," he said.
"We can now complete customs formalities at home. And I am sure our western buyers will have little to worry about our products from now on," he said.
He said the government should put the stress on fast delivery of containers so that the exporters do not have to wait in a long queue for scanning their containers.
MA Salam, former first vice president, however, thinks the scanning charge is a bit high.
"The government should have talked with the exporters before imposing the charge because it would increase cost of export."
"It should be fixed through discussion with the exporters."
Exporters and importers will have to bear the cost of inspection of their goods at the Chittagong seaport after the authorities slapped a fee of US$5.0 on scanning every container.
The fees would come into effect in the current month after finance minister AMA Muhith approved a National Board of Revenue (NBR) proposal last week, an official said Monday.
The NBR said the scanning charges have been imposed to raise the maintenance and operational cost of the scanners the authorities have installed early this month.
The board has set up a total of four scanners and 10 radiation detection equipment recently amid mounting pressures from the western countries in the wake of global fight against terrorism.
The machines, which have already started scanning import-export containers, were funded by the Asian Development Board (ADB) under the board's 'Chittagong Port Facilitation Project, the official said.
The NBR expects to raise Tk 350 million annually by scanning more than 1.0 million containers being handled by the port every year.
Chittagong is the country's largest sea-port, accounting for some $37 billion worth of foreign trade in the last fiscal year. Container handling at the port has been growing at around 15 per cent a year since 2002.
Board officials said installation of scanners has removed a key obstacle to the country's foreign trade.
"Exporters have long been demanding scanners to check containers before shipment, which is a pre-condition to export in the US market. They don't mind if they have to bear the scanning cost," another official said.
Garments exporters alleged that very often they have to wait at least one month to scan their containers at customs entry points in ports in America, the largest market for Bangladeshi products.
Bangladesh Garment Exporters and Manufacturers Association (BGMEA) first vice president Nasiruddin Chowdhury hailed the government's move.
"We are pleased to contribute $5.0 as scanning charge because it will save us a lot of time and hassles in customs clearing points in western countries," he said.
"We can now complete customs formalities at home. And I am sure our western buyers will have little to worry about our products from now on," he said.
He said the government should put the stress on fast delivery of containers so that the exporters do not have to wait in a long queue for scanning their containers.
MA Salam, former first vice president, however, thinks the scanning charge is a bit high.
"The government should have talked with the exporters before imposing the charge because it would increase cost of export."
"It should be fixed through discussion with the exporters."