Move to stop revenue losses at land ports

From left, Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, his Bangladesh counterpart AMA Muhith, and Prime Minister's Economic Affairs Adviser Mashiur Rahman attend the launch of “car pass”, a system to reduce tax evasion, at Petrapole land port in India yesterday.Photo: STAR

In a bid to prevent revenue leakage at land ports, Bangladesh and India yesterday launched a new mechanism -- car pass -- for vehicles involved in export-import activities between the neighbouring countries through Benapole land port.
Officials said the car passes will be provided to truck drivers and helpers who carry goods between the countries to facilitate loading and unloading in the frontier areas.
The system will also prohibit unauthorised citizens from trespassing into the territories of the two countries using trade vehicles.
A car pass will contain photos and other details of the driver and helper of the vehicle, exporters and importers of the goods, and description of the vehicle and goods.
AMA Muhith, the finance minister of Bangladesh, and his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee officially introduced the system at Benapole-Petrapole frontier, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said in a statement.
However, export-import activities in the two land ports remained suspended for three days from Thursday on the occasion of the arrival of the two finance ministers.
Muhith said the government wants strengthened mutual bond and expanded trade relations between the two countries.
He also said a process has been initiated to start transit with India through three points in Bangladesh.
Another one point will be opened soon, Muhith said, adding that the introduction of transit with Nepal and Bhutan has also been under consideration.
The minister also said the opposition has for the first time supported giving transit to India and it will be implemented soon.
He said car passes will be introduced in other customs stations in phases.
Meanwhile, admitting that there is a trade gap between Bangladesh and India, Pranab Mukherjee said his government has given duty-free access of several Bangladeshi products to India to reduce the gap.
The Indian minister also stressed developing trade relations between the two countries, saying Paschimbanga (West Bengal) and Bangladesh have the same heritage.
Mukherjee said the car pass system will expand export-import between the two countries and increase transparency in revenue earning at the land port.
Director of Benapole land port Golam Mostafa said the car pass system will stop evasion of a huge amount of taxes.
Prime Minister's Economic Adviser Mashiur Rahman, Chairman of the National Board of Revenue Nasiruddin Ahmed, Chairman of Indian Central Board of Excise and Customs SK Goel, and other senior government officials from both the sides were present.