Trade of bidi in fake bandrolls on
Staff Reporter :
Trade of bidi in fake bandrolls has not stopped. For a long time, unscrupulous syndicates have been evading crores of revenue by committing such frauds. There is no visible action by the concerned ministry regarding them. At times, the concerned department with the help of law enforcement agencies conducted raids at various places and recovered fake bandrolls, but this illegal bidi business did not stop.
It is alleged that VAT Tax and Customs Department is not doing much in this regard. However, those associated with the bedi industry feel that the government can earn Tk 20 thousand crore annually from the bedi industry only if the fraud cycle is controlled. Last year, a bench of the High Court issued a directive to stop the illegal trade of bidis as to why illegal bidis/cigarette factories should not be declared closed. The High Court has directed to immediately identify and close down the bidii-cigarette factories operating in violation of the law and to take necessary steps to seize the tobacco products and other materials produced in those factories.
The court issued this order to the Director General of Environment Department, Coordinator of National Tobacco Control Cell, Chief Boiler Inspector and Inspector General of Factories and Establishment Inspection Department. The court also wanted to know why inaction to stop production and sale of bidi-cigarettes without complying with laws and regulations should not be declared illegal.
According to sources, the government has canceled the licenses of around 72 bidi companies. The bedis of these companies are being sold under different names in different markets, especially in the Rangpur division. Apart from this, the companies are grabbing crores of taka by selling bidis in various markets of North Bengal, especially Dinajpur, Rangpur, by putting fake bands on the bidi packets of fake companies. It is learned that the picture of bedi industry is similar across the country.
Those related to the bidi industry said that the government has fixed the price of bidi per packet at Tk 18 including VAT-tax. But bogus companies put fake bandrolls on bidi packets. It’s price is Tk 9. As a result, the real bidi companies are suffering. The investigation has revealed that in different upazilas of 8 districts of Rangpur division, fake bandrolled bedis and unlicensed bedis are being marketed in the in village markets across the country.
Genuine bidi companies are selling bidi at Tk 18 which is set by the government. There other bidi companies are selling bidi at Tk 6-9 per packet. Apart from this, many famous bidi companies are selling bidis at Tk 6 – 8 per packet by adopting different strategies.
The Rangpur district bidi owner association claimed that the truth will be found if the National Revenue Board goes to the field level and monitors. They said that there are about four thousand bidi companies in Bangladesh. There are more than 400 bidi companies approved in Rangpur division alone.
According to the source, in the financial year 2021-2022, the revenue collected from the bidi industry is Tk 1046.98 crore. If all bidi companies in the country pay revenue properly, the revenue will increase manifold.
