Illegally imported rice seized at Hili land port
Two customs officials of Hili land port in Hakimpur upazila under the district were closed yesterday after Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized 151 tonnes of rice that was imported from India without paying the stipulated revenue on Tuesday.
They are customs superintendents Md Alauddin and Suvash Chandra Kundu, said land port officials.
Tipped off, a BGB team wanted to check the weight when eight trucks loaded with imported rice entered Hili land port on Tuesday afternoon, said Major Hasib of 20 BGB Battalion in Joypurhat.
"The port authorities and customs officials tried to manage the BGB men but the latter remained stiff. After weighing the eight trucks, 151 tonnes of rice was found beyond the declaration mentioned in the documents," he said.
Suchi Enterprise of Bogra imported the rice in six trucks while Mojumder Enterprise of Dhaka imported the item in two other trucks.
"The two traders evaded a total of Tk 13.28 lakh and 800 in taxes and so, customs authorities will realise fine from them. Two customs officials of Hili have been closed on charge of complicity," said Md Fakhrul Amin Chowdhury, assistant commissioner of customs at Hili land port.
A section of traders, customs officials and men of contracted port operator Panama Port Link Ltd are involved in dodging tax on imported rice, said BGB officials.
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