Benapole custom releases goods in record 19 minutes

Benapole Custom House yesterday issued the release order and cleared a consignment of chilli, turmeric and ginger in just 19 minutes -- a new record for the port.

The customs duty paper was printed in 10 minutes and the release order in the next 9 minutes, said Belal Hossain Chowdhury, Benapole custom commissioner.

Some 42 railway wagons carried the 2,600 tonnes of spices, he said.

"The goods were released in the quickest possible time to prevent a potential crisis," Chowdhury added.

If the documents are correct, not only rail cargo, all types of consignments can be cleared quickly, said

Naeem Miron, a revenue officer of Benapole Customs House.

Rubel Enterprise from Bogura brought the products from India, according to import documents.

Importers have to pay parking fees and extortion charges if the products are carried through trucks, whereas rail cargoes are free of such matters, Chowdhury said.

One wagon can bring four trucks of goods at a time and a train of 100 bogies can bring about 400 trucks a day.

Moreover, the chances of false declaration in rail cargo remain low and the rent is less than half of trucks', he added.