Smuggling through Maitree Express must be stopped
ACCORDING to recent media report Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) alleged that many passengers of Maitree Express, a Dhaka-Kolkata train service, were involved in smuggling and duty evasion while bringing goods in Bangladesh taking the advantage of relaxed Customs checking due to shortage of manpower and logistic along with time constrain. Service of Maitree Express is obviously a good endeavour to make closer people to people relation between Bangladesh and India. It runs thrice in a week between Dhaka and Kolkata and reserve. But if it becomes a vehicle of ill- practice, it is unfortunate. In this context the CIID has requested the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for taking necessary action to prevent smuggling and duty evasion by passengers of the train. We agree with CIID’s suggestions for Customs checking at the destination station of the train, arrangement of separate and sealed coaches with the train for luggage transportation, deployment of Customs Officials on the train to ensure security of the sealed compartment in this regard and conducting scan of baggage of passengers to be selected under risk management system which is followed at the Airport.
At Present, customs procedures of passengers of this train are completed at Darshana International Railway Station in Chuadanga. Due to lack of Infrastructure and manpower it is not possible for Customs Officials to conduct proper Customs procedures at the station. Moreover the stoppage time of the train at Darshana Station is also very short, which causes hindrance in Customs Checking. It is known from the Customs Intelligence source that lockmasters (train drivers) in connivance with the concerned passengers arrange to unload the smuggled and duty evaded Indian goods at different places between Darshana and Dhaka by reducing the speed of train. This is a common tactics of smugglers to load and unload smuggled goods specially at the Dhaka-Chittagong rail-route.
Smuggling and duty evasion in any form should not be tolerated. In the case of using any train for this ill purpose is not only harmful for the discipline of national economy; at the same time it creates irritating situation for innocent passengers. So, practical steps should be taken to make a halt of this crime with due attention as no innocent passenger is harassed.
At Present, customs procedures of passengers of this train are completed at Darshana International Railway Station in Chuadanga. Due to lack of Infrastructure and manpower it is not possible for Customs Officials to conduct proper Customs procedures at the station. Moreover the stoppage time of the train at Darshana Station is also very short, which causes hindrance in Customs Checking. It is known from the Customs Intelligence source that lockmasters (train drivers) in connivance with the concerned passengers arrange to unload the smuggled and duty evaded Indian goods at different places between Darshana and Dhaka by reducing the speed of train. This is a common tactics of smugglers to load and unload smuggled goods specially at the Dhaka-Chittagong rail-route.
Smuggling and duty evasion in any form should not be tolerated. In the case of using any train for this ill purpose is not only harmful for the discipline of national economy; at the same time it creates irritating situation for innocent passengers. So, practical steps should be taken to make a halt of this crime with due attention as no innocent passenger is harassed.
