The revenue collection at Benapole Land Port has fallen below target in the current fiscal year due to a number of reasons.
However, statistics show the number of imports to have risen in the country's largest land port, reports UNB.
Sources at the local customs office said that the import figure for the fiscal year of 2017-18 for 10 months was 1.44 million metric tonnes, significantly more than last year when it was 1.06 million metric tonnes.
But the revenue collection for the current fiscal year is Tk 3.39 billion, lower than the targeted revenue of Tk 3.68 billion.
They said this was attributed to heavy import of low-taxed goods and low import of high-taxed goods.
According to Benapole customs statistics, the highest monthly import figure was during October, when 273,000 metric tonnes worth goods were imported.
The lowest was in July, when 104,000 metric tonnes goods were imported.
Mafizur Rahman Swapan, president of Benapole Cost and Freight Agent Association, said that it is normal for revenue to go down if low-taxable goods are imported.
He cited customs fee hike and harassment by the BGB personnel as other probable reasons.
Aminul Haque, vice president of Benapole Importers and Exporters Association, said that not many developments have been made in the land port.
Following this with excessive tax imposes and harassment during cargo unloading, traders are moving away from using this port - which is why revenues are decreasing.
Belal Hossain Chowdhury, commissioner of Benapole Customs House, said that items with low duty are being imported more, such as rice and onions, which may be why revenue collections have decreased.
He hoped that the numbers would increase in the coming months.
