Country’s second largest customs house Benapole has collected Tk 3,060.12 crore less than the target set by the Board of Revenue (NBR) in the first 11 months of the running financial year (2019-20) (July-May).

According to customs sources, the NBR set a revenue target of Tk 8,26.34 crore for goods imported from India through Benapole port in the current fiscal year 2019-20. In the first 11 months of the financial year, the revenue target was set at Tk 5,606.65 crore.

At time, the customs authorities collected only Tk 2,537.63 crore against the target.

The revenue deficit has exceeded the target by Tk 3,060.12 crore. At this time, 18 lakh 6 thousand 728 metric tons of different types of products have been imported from India.

Even before this, in the financial year 2018-19, Benapole Customs House had a revenue deficit of Tk 1,145 crore. The target was set at Tk 5,165 crore. 4 thousand 40 crore was collected.
Mofizur Rahman Sajan, president of the Benapole C&F Association, blames the continuing revenue shortfall on a lack of infrastructure development at the port in line with demand and a drop in imports at high tariff rates.

Meanwhile, imports with India have been suspended in Corona for two and a half months. As a result, the revenue deficit will be more.

Individuals engaged in import-export think that due to not the development of port infrastructure and the tightening of customs, traders have reduced their imports in this way and the revenue has lagged behind at the beginning of the financial year. They think that  development of port infrastructure has to be increased. Increasing the facilities of traders including quick unloading of goods will double the revenue target.

Sarwar Hossain, assistant revenue officer at Benapole Customs House, admitted the revenue shortfall, saying imports had been suspended for the first two and a half months due to corona. Besides, some traders have reduced imports through this port due to not increased transparency and accountability in unloading goods.