Benapole port falls behind half yearly revenue target
Benapole land port has earned Tk 215.79 crore less than the target in the first six months of the current fiscal year (2012-2013).
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) had set a revenue earning target of Tk 2,620 crore for the country's largest land port for the fiscal.
In the first two quarters of the fiscal, the port earned revenue Tk 1,048 crore against the target of Tk 1,310 crore.
Benapole C&F Agent Association Vice President Nuruzzaman said the volume of export and import between Bangladesh and India has been increased after introduction of online system at the Petrapole customs station and car pass with photo.
But, import of high-duty products through the port has been declined due to strict measures taken by the customs authorities, he said.
Products worth of several crore taka are being smuggled to Bangladesh from India now.
Importers are now using Hili, Sona Masjid, Bhomra and Year Fred land ports instead of Benaploe port.
Benapole Customs House Joint Commissioner Faizur Rahman said the revenue earning of the port was Tk 2,312 crore in the fiscal year 2011-12.
Strict measures were imposed on import goods to check evasion of taxes, he said.
Besides, import through Benapole has come down since other ports relaxed the import procedures.
Import of motor parts, motorcycles, three-wheelers, fabrics, imitation jewellery, trucks, buses, television sets and fish has reduced due to high import duty.
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