Benapole Customs fails to meet revenue target
Tk 310cr less
revenue collected
in 8 months
UNB
Despite several initiatives to curb non-payment of taxes, Benapole Customs House has collected Tk 310 crore less revenue than the target in the first eight months of the fiscal 2015-16, reports UNB.
Sources said increase in product tariff and new set of regulations are swaying importers away from using Benapole port.
Recruitment of honest personnel in the posts of commissioner, additional commissioner and joint commissioner has also dissuaded opportunist importers from importing through the port.
Traders fear that the revenue deficit may rise to Tk500 crore because of this.
According to sources at Benapole Customs, the target for revenue collection for the fiscal 2015-16 was set at Tk3143.32 crore, out of which target in the first eight months (July-February) was set at Tk2015.45 crore.
But the actual revenue collection stood at Tk1705.77 crore, showin a deficit of Tk310.
The targeted figure for last July was Tk243.14 crore, but only Tk190.18 crore was realised.
Importers and traders of the port informed that the authorities hiked product tariff largely and that is why the shortfall is.
Similar impact fell on the tax realisation in the nearby ports such as Mongla, Hili, Sonamasjid and Bhomra.
Vice-president of Benapole Exporters and Importers Association Aminul Haque echoed similar sentiments.
He said that previously over 500 trucks used to carry import goods through Benapole port, but now it has reduced to 250.
He fears that a lack of faith is prevalent among the traders; which is why they have reduced importing.
Mizanur Rahman Khan, former president of Jessore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that lack of sales in local market has also caused them to cut down on imports.
Benapole CF Agent Association president Mafizur Rahman Sajan suggested fall in imports as the main cause for low revenue collection.
He alleged that the customs authorities raised the import tariff against products and altered the HS codes as they liked, without consulting the importers and other relevant users of the port.
As a result, importers and traders are turning away from using the port.
But the customs authority is confident about overcoming the collection deficit.
Customs commissioner AFM Abdullah Khan said that a lot of revenue was evaded from this port previously, but now there is no scope for that.
He cited a fall in high duty-laden product imports, 13,000 tonnes to be exact, as the main cause of the collection deficit.
They are hopeful to overcome this deficit soon.
