Benapole Customs House has failed to achieve its revenue collection target between July and November, collection only half of its initial target.
Uttam Chakma, assistant commissioner of the Customs House, said they set target to collect revenue of Tk 24.27 billion in the period but managed to collect only Tk 12.52 billion.
He said the decrease of imports due to high tax and strict rules and regulation at the port have played significant roles in the falling of revenue collection at Benapole.
Benapole Custom House Commissioner Mohammad Belal Hossain Chowdhury said, “Some importers are avoiding the Benapole port as it has increased transparency and accountability to clear the goods and shipments.”
On the Bangladesh-India land border, Benapole is the most important check-post and is operated by the Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA), as per a report on UNB.
Geographically, Benapole is a major strategic point for border trade between India and Bangladesh owing to its proximity to Kolkata.
According to Land Port Authority, approximately 90 per cent of the total imported items from India come through Benapole.