Ctg Customs: Disposal of abandoned import items starts today

The customs house in Chattogram will start disposing off almost 3,000 tonnes of perishable and chemical goods stuffed in 130 containers today, which were left abandoned by the importers for years.

The process of destroying goods will start at 5pm at the Chattogram City Corporation's dumping yard in the city's Halishahar. The consignments of the products to be destroyed include onion, ginger, garlic, apple, malta and several chemicals. These products were brought in by 50 importers in seven years to 2016.

The goods will be destroyed in phases and it would take more than a week to complete, said Tapan Chandra Dey, deputy commissioner of customs.

According to rules, if an importer fails to receive imported consignments within 30 days after the goods are unloaded from ships the port authority hands over the import documents to the customs authority that issues notice to the importer.

If the importer does not take delivery within 15 days into issuing the notice, the goods can be auctioned off.

According to customs officials, main reasons for not taking delivery of imported goods include reduction of price of goods in the local market, failure of submitting original documents in support of import, failure to get clearance permit report and importers' denial to give fine after being accused for breaching rules.

Representatives of the Department of Environment, Bangladesh Navy, local city corporation, Chattogram Metropolitan Police, Rapid Action Battalion, shipping agents and other organisations concerned will be present on the occasion.