Benapole Correspondent :
About 70 shipments of synthetic fabrics (Than Kapor) imported from India have been stuck at Benapole port for the past one month. Although the National Board of Revenue’s BCT Book has fixed the maximum duty and price, but the customs authorities are trying to new classification and increase the price and categories of goods. As a result, the government is losing revenue of about TK.50 crore.
However, such products are often smuggled regularly. Due to this reason the importers unable to survive the competition, many businessmen are sitting on the road. Importers are not clearing 70 consignments from the port, seeking to increase the price of (Synthetic) panel cloth, despite the fact that the price of synthetic cloth is always available in the computer data sheet at the Benapole Customs House.
Generally, such products are not coming through legitimate channels but are often smuggled. Legitimate traders cannot survive to competition with them.
Traders allege that a strong smuggling group is influencing the customs authorities to stop the import of goods through legal way.
At Chittagong, ICT, Sonamsjid and Pangao ports, the same goods are being delivered at the duty and Value rates fixed by the National Board of Revenue. But pressure is being applied to the importers to increase the price of Benapole. According to the National Board of Revenue slab, the goods are declared as synthetic fabrics. But the customs authorities want to increase the value by artificially classifying them as Orna fabrics which is not in any customs house in Bangladesh.
If the price increases, the importers will suffer huge financial losses.
In the last 5/6 years, similar goods are being cleared from Benapole Customs House in the same category and at the same price in accordance with the customs houses of all over Bangladesh.
The importer also says that after importing synthetic than cloth, there is no demarcation, but the customs authorities forcefully categorize and want to increase the price which is not fully compliant. Customs HS code of synthetic fabrics is 5407.72.00 which is minimum value 3 dollars.
The customs authorities are trying to mark the price of the cloth as Orna Fabrics at $4, which is not available in any customs house in Bangladesh. Lately, importers have complained that such goods are being imported through Benapole port and are forcing for new classification, review which ultimately increase prices.
As a result, Benapole Customs House has a revenue deficit of Tk 280 crore so far, said the customs authorities.
From the first of this month, Chittagong customs authorities are exempting polyester/synthetic fabrics at $3.5 per kg.
Benapole Customs House Joint Commissioner Md. Hafizul Islam said that inspection of goods consignments has been completed. The problem of inflation has been resolved. Hopefully it will be possible to release the stuck goods quickly.