Tk 45 crore caught in audit team surveillance

Chattogram Customs House has identified multiple cases of revenue evasion involving false declarations at the import stage, incorrect HS codes and the import of more goods than declared. The Audit, Investigation and Research (AIR) branch of the institution conducted operations on 143 suspected consignments in July and August and recovered Tk 45 crore 3 lakh 29 thousand 180 in revenue. Customs officials said irregularities were identified after the consignments were detained for physical examination, inventory of the goods and analysis of import related documents.

Of these, operations were conducted on 83 consignments in July and Tk 24 crore 73 lakh 86 thousand 984 in revenue was recovered. In August, 60 operations resulted in the recovery of Tk 20 crore 29 lakh 42 thousand 196 in revenue. Customs officials said the seized value of the goods in the consignments where irregularities were identified in August was approximately Tk 54 crore 7 lakh 52 thousand 326. Duties, taxes, fines and other applicable amounts were recovered in the subsequent process. The goods falsely declared in the operations included mobile phone display modules, various spare parts, LED television panels, copper and aluminum wire, powdered milk, fabrics, used diesel engines and cabin assemblies, as well as mechanical and electronic products.

According to customs officials, some consignments contained goods that were declared under categories with comparatively lower duty rates. In some consignments, the quantity of additional goods was up to about 50 percent of the declared weight. Multiple such irregularities have recently come to light through intelligence operations by Chattogram Customs. On September 14, a consignment of Kahf Corporation was declared to contain 37 tons of heat transfer paper and 10 tons of PVC flex banners. However, physical examination found 19.85 tons and 26.79 tons respectively. This resulted in an additional Tk 67 lakh 90 thousand in revenue being collected.

Earlier, a consignment of Sultana Corporation was declared to contain 2,827 kilograms of showpieces. However, a large quantity of glass marbles, hotpots, mobile screens and various other products were found. As 3,303 kilograms more goods than declared were found, a total of Tk 71 lakh 73 thousand was claimed in duties, taxes, fines and redemption fees.

Former Lead Economist of the World Bank Dhaka office Dr. Zahid Hossain told Agamir Somoy, “Identifying false declarations at the import stage is not only a matter of revenue collection. It is also linked to the country’s overall tax discipline and business environment. If punishment and monitoring against false declarations are weak, the tendency toward irregularities among dishonest importers will increase. Therefore, monitoring should be strengthened further. At the same time, if repeated irregularities are found involving the same type of goods, the concerned importers and C&F agents should be placed on a risk list and their subsequent consignments should be subject to increased monitoring.”

Chattogram Customs House is one of the country’s major revenue collecting institutions. In the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year, the institution collected Tk 81,471 crore in revenue, which was 12.37 percent higher than the previous fiscal year.