Meet to fix transshipment, transit fee row on Nov 10
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
FE Report
The transshipment and transit fee issue will be finally scrutinised next month at a public-private discussion with a view to coming out of the indecisiveness on continuation or elimination of the fees.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will arrange the discussion meeting on November 10 at CIRDAP in the city to take a final decision on the vexing issue, said NBR chairman Nasiruddin Ahmed at a press briefing Tuesday.
"The rule of charging transshipment and transit fees is still a customs act that was slapped through the finance act this year. The fees were suspended temporarily for further decisions by the government high-ups," he said.
The decision is pending now as per instruction of the government high-ups, he said.
The revenue officials are not collecting the fees now, he said.
It has also ordered release of the two stuck-up Indian ships with undertaking, he said.
NBR member, customs and VAT administration, Farid Uddin said: "The customs needs the fees but different issues are relevant with the transit and transshipment fees."
Goods coming through transit and transshipment will use road, rail and waterway along with customs points, he said.
The government has slapped Tk 1,000 for bulk product without container and Tk 10,000 for per TEU container as transshipment and transit fees for bulk in the budget for 2010-11.
Recently, the finance minister has sent a note in response to a proposal of NBR for continuation of the transit and transshipment fees.
The finance minister expressed his positive view on charging the transshipment fees, but questioned transit fees seeking NBR's view on the necessity of the fees.
"If there is customs duty, then what is the logic of slapping transit fees?" he questioned.
NBR officials said thee is no duty on the products for using transit facilities. They said the NBR would clarify the issue by sending another summery to the minister.
The transshipment and transit fee issue will be finally scrutinised next month at a public-private discussion with a view to coming out of the indecisiveness on continuation or elimination of the fees.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will arrange the discussion meeting on November 10 at CIRDAP in the city to take a final decision on the vexing issue, said NBR chairman Nasiruddin Ahmed at a press briefing Tuesday.
"The rule of charging transshipment and transit fees is still a customs act that was slapped through the finance act this year. The fees were suspended temporarily for further decisions by the government high-ups," he said.
The decision is pending now as per instruction of the government high-ups, he said.
The revenue officials are not collecting the fees now, he said.
It has also ordered release of the two stuck-up Indian ships with undertaking, he said.
NBR member, customs and VAT administration, Farid Uddin said: "The customs needs the fees but different issues are relevant with the transit and transshipment fees."
Goods coming through transit and transshipment will use road, rail and waterway along with customs points, he said.
The government has slapped Tk 1,000 for bulk product without container and Tk 10,000 for per TEU container as transshipment and transit fees for bulk in the budget for 2010-11.
Recently, the finance minister has sent a note in response to a proposal of NBR for continuation of the transit and transshipment fees.
The finance minister expressed his positive view on charging the transshipment fees, but questioned transit fees seeking NBR's view on the necessity of the fees.
"If there is customs duty, then what is the logic of slapping transit fees?" he questioned.
NBR officials said thee is no duty on the products for using transit facilities. They said the NBR would clarify the issue by sending another summery to the minister.