Chittagong Custom House building. -AA
The Chittagong Custom House has failed to achieve the target of tax collection from July to December, the first six months of the current fiscal 2016-17. The target of the Chittagong Custom House for tax collection was Tk 18,139.53 crore in the first six months up to December but it could collect Tk 17,109.99 cr which was less than the target, concerned sources said. Sources said, forging of documents, fake declaration and corruption of the Customs officials etc were the prime causes for the failure. The collection was Tk 1029.54 crore less than the target.
Custom source said, the rate of growth was 5.54 percent more than the first six months of the last fiscal (2015-2016). The growth rate was 12.97 percent in the first six months of the last fiscal (2015-2016) while the growth rate was 18.51 percent in the first six months July to December of the current fiscal 2016-2017. The monthly target of tax collection in July 2016 was Tk 2340.86 crore, where Chittagong Customs collected taxes of Tk 2323.49 crore in the last July, source said.
In August 2016, the target of tax collection was Tk 2986.34 crore and Chittagong Customs collected taxes of Tk 3000.90 crore. The target of tax collection in September 2016 was Tk 3289.97 crore but it could collec Tk 2478.77 crore. The target of tax collection in October 2016 was Tk 3058.40 crore while collection was 2825.30 crore. The target of collection of taxes in November 2016 was 3083 crore and 8 lakh taka, but collected taxes were of taka 3256 crore and 65 lakh. In December 2016, the target of tax collection was Tk 3398.00 crore, but collection was Tk 3224.98 crore.
It may be mentioned here that the target of the Chittagong Custom House for tax collection was Tk 33,121.11 crore in 2015-1016 fiscal year. But, they could collect Tk 31299.91 crore. The officials concerned are hopeful that the collection of taxes will be increased in next six months of the current fiscal and the deficiency will be removed. According to the sources, wrong HS Code and fake declaration was the prime cause of decreasing tax collection. Sources said, importers are rampantly importing the taxable goods by fake declaration under the bonded facilities through Chittagong Sea Port.
On November 25 last, Customs Intelligence Department seized a 40 feet long container from Chittagong Port yard for importing fabric by fake declaration. Acting on secret information, a team of Customs Intelligence Department raided the office and adjoining factory of Al Amin Maritime Apparels Fashion Limited at Noyabazar area in the port city at that night. The team recovered 65 secret documents of Chittagong Custom House. Of the documents, 11 were on Bank Guarantee, 43 of under trial cases and 12 others on tax.
On January 06 last, Chittagong Custom House authority suspended two of its officials for their involvement in stealing the important 65 secret documents which were recovered later. The terminated officials were Senior Assistant Abdur Rajjak and Computer Operator Masud. The investigation team of Custom Intelligence Department primarily confirmed that the said officials were directly involved in the stealing the important 65 secret documents. Meanwhile, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) is going to investigate into the incident.
Sources said, several syndicates are active in importing goods by fake declaration in Chittagong and Dhaka. Some of the importers, C&F agents, shipping agents and corrupt and dishonest Customs officials are involved in the said syndicates. They use to import goods by fake declarations, fake HS codes and tempering the documents. Besides, contraband items are also being imported in such way, reliable sources added. CCH officials said that despite enjoying the Pre-Shipment Investigation (PSI) facilities, some of the importers use to give fake declaration. Besides, in maximum cases of non-PSI goods, incidents of fake declaration are rampant.
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