Benapole Customs misses revenue target by Tk4,731 crore

Highlights:

• Imports fall by 197,000 tonnes
• 4 cases filed in 4 months
• 9 clearing and forwarding licences suspended

Benapole Customs House, the country's largest land port, missed its revised revenue target by Tk4,731 crore in FY2025-26, amid lower imports, slower trade and growing concerns over alleged irregularities in customs management.

The revised revenue target for the fiscal year was Tk11,290 crore. However, the actual collection stood at Tk6,559 crore, according to customs data. In FY2024-25, revenue collection was Tk7,029.38 crore.

Imports through the port also declined to 1.40 million tonnes in FY2025-26 from 1.60 million tonnes a year earlier, a drop of nearly 197,000 tonnes. NBR data also show lower imports of high-duty items, including fruits, sarees and three-piece suits.

While officials cite lower imports, sluggish international trade and changes in the tariff structure as reasons for the shortfall, recent allegations of weighbridge manipulation, customs evasion, undeclared imports, misuse of South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) facilities and theft of goods from port sheds have raised fresh concerns.

Business leaders and customs-related stakeholders claim better control of such irregularities could have positively affected revenue collection.

According to traders and importers, an organised syndicate has long been exploiting false declarations, weight manipulation and duty concessions to evade customs duties.

Data from Benapole Land Port show duty rates on SAFTA imports rose from 7% in FY2023-24 to 11% in FY2024-25 and 35% in FY2025-26. Traders allege the increase has encouraged attempts to clear high-duty goods under declarations for lower-duty items.

A recent letter signed by Benapole Customs Assistant Commissioner Atal Goswami triggered fresh scrutiny. On 14 June, two different empty-weight records were generated at the same time for the same Indian truck at a digital weighbridge. One record showed 4,880kg and the other 4,920kg.

Customs sought a written explanation from port authorities within three working days. A customs official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the consignment contained bicycle parts and was later detained for investigation.

Several incidents between March and June have intensified concerns. On 12 March, customs uncovered the alleged theft of Indian sarees and three-pieces worth nearly Tk6 crore, imported under a declaration for baking powder. After an investigation, customs filed a case against 18 people on 10 June.

Five days later, goods worth about Tk1.5 crore were seized from Shed No. 26 after being imported under declarations for erasers and pencils.

On 25 April, customs detected weight discrepancies involving a truck carrying imported grapes. Although an investigation followed, those concerned attributed the issue to a technical fault in the weighing equipment.

On 21 June, BGB seized a truck carrying Indian sarees and cosmetics worth about Tk2.5 crore. Assistant Revenue Officer Indrajit Mukherjee was detained, while Assistant Revenue Officer Ariful Islam Chowdhury, customs sepoy Mohammad Sagar and several others faced departmental action.

On 25 June, CCTV footage captured the transfer of 40 packages from an Indian truck to a Bangladeshi truck in the chemical zone. Customs later found a discrepancy involving 2,784kg of goods.

Port authorities filed a case against 10 people, including Ansar members, private security personnel, truck drivers, helpers and customs officials. The FIR claimed that goods had been removed from within the port using counterfeit entry passes, contravening established security protocols.

Between March and June, four separate cases were filed over customs evasion, theft of goods and security breaches. A total of 54 people, including unidentified suspects, were accused. During this time, the licences of nine clearing and forwarding agents were suspended on a temporary basis.

While departmental action has been initiated against several customs officials, investigations into the majority of the high-profile incidents remain ongoing.

Benapole Import-Export Association General Secretary Ziaur Rahman said incidents of theft or duty evasion inside port sheds should be investigated impartially, including the role of those responsible for supervision. "Unless the actual culprits are identified, such irregularities will persist," he stated.

Businessman Habibur Rahman Hobi said even minor manipulation of digital weighbridges could cause the government to lose crores of taka in revenue and called for round-the-clock technology-based monitoring.

Benapole Land Port Director Shamim Hossain stated that allegations of weighbridge manipulation and other irregularities are being taken with the utmost seriousness. An inquiry committee has been formed, and action will be taken if wrongdoing is found.

Benapole Customs Commissioner Md Faizur Rahman said customs remained fully committed to preventing revenue leakage. "No one involved in weighbridge manipulation, false declarations or duty evasion will be spared," he said, adding that criminal as well as departmental action would be taken if evidence is found.

Jashore Chamber of Commerce Secretary Tanvirul Islam Sohan said repeated allegations involving weight discrepancies, recovery of high-duty goods, theft, duty evasion and administrative action had naturally raised questions about revenue management at the country's largest land port. 

He called for impartial investigations, stronger technology-based monitoring and visible action against those responsible, alongside improved port facilities.