Marked increase in detection of duty evasion in 2007
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Doulot Akter Mala
Customs intelligence and investigation department in 2007 unearthed cases of duty evasion involving Tk 2.19 billion.
The department unearthed cases of duty evasion involving Tk 460 million and Tk 410 million in 2006 and 2005 respectively, according to a report prepared by the department.
Intelligence department sources said they have been able to work smoothly in 2007 as there was no political interference in the process of their investigation.
Earlier, the intelligence body had to suspend investigation into a number of cases because of inference by a section of political leaders.
In 2007, the intelligence team seized goods worth Tk 1.54 billion, involving customs duty worth Tk 640 million.
In 2006 and 2005, the department seized goods worth Tk 394 million and 310 million involving duty evasion of Tk 73 million and Tk 98 million respectively.
Last year, the team unearthed a case of duty evasion worth over Tk 200 million (20 crore) by two industrial units of Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ).
The units had been marketing their products locally instead of exporting them violating the existing rules.
Under the existing rules, a company should export the produced goods if it imported its raw materials under the bond facility. Otherwise, the company ought to pay tax for import of raw materials before selling the produced goods locally.
The team had found that there were no production-related activities in those units, apart from only some abandoned machinery.
During the past few years, import of raw materials under the guise of duty-free bond facility had increased substantially and a part of the same allegedly flooded the local markets, sources said.
"For the last few years the board has been putting its allout efforts to stop this malpractice, but due to political pressure the intelligence team of the NBR could not unearth those cases," an intelligence official said.
Customs intelligence and investigation department in 2007 unearthed cases of duty evasion involving Tk 2.19 billion.
The department unearthed cases of duty evasion involving Tk 460 million and Tk 410 million in 2006 and 2005 respectively, according to a report prepared by the department.
Intelligence department sources said they have been able to work smoothly in 2007 as there was no political interference in the process of their investigation.
Earlier, the intelligence body had to suspend investigation into a number of cases because of inference by a section of political leaders.
In 2007, the intelligence team seized goods worth Tk 1.54 billion, involving customs duty worth Tk 640 million.
In 2006 and 2005, the department seized goods worth Tk 394 million and 310 million involving duty evasion of Tk 73 million and Tk 98 million respectively.
Last year, the team unearthed a case of duty evasion worth over Tk 200 million (20 crore) by two industrial units of Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ).
The units had been marketing their products locally instead of exporting them violating the existing rules.
Under the existing rules, a company should export the produced goods if it imported its raw materials under the bond facility. Otherwise, the company ought to pay tax for import of raw materials before selling the produced goods locally.
The team had found that there were no production-related activities in those units, apart from only some abandoned machinery.
During the past few years, import of raw materials under the guise of duty-free bond facility had increased substantially and a part of the same allegedly flooded the local markets, sources said.
"For the last few years the board has been putting its allout efforts to stop this malpractice, but due to political pressure the intelligence team of the NBR could not unearth those cases," an intelligence official said.