Revenue earning at the northern district of Dinajpur’s Hili land port has fallen short of the target set by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for July 2019 to November 2019 of the current fiscal year, says an official.
According to the Hili land port sources, authorities collected Tk 644.7 million, around Tk 125.6 million less than the revenue target of Tk 770.03 million set by the NBR for the first five months of 2019-2020 fiscal.
“Revenue earning has missed the target for the past five month [July to November],” said Abu Bakar Siddique, revenue officer of the Hili land port customs station.
Sources at the port customs office said, the NBR set Tk 2.72 billion as their revenue target for the port for the entire current fiscal year.
In 2019, for July, the port’s earnings were at 100.94 million against a target of Tk 71.6 million. In August the port earned Tk 93.1 million against a target of Tk 173.1 million, in September, Tk 141.6 million against a targeted Tk 119.4 million, in October Tk 117.9 million against Tk 162.3 million as a target, and in November the earnings were at Tk 182.6 million against a target of Tk 243.9 million.
Traders, however, hold customs officials responsible for falling short of revenue target.
Importers Mamunur Rashaid and Rajib Dutt said revenue earnings fell short of the target due to the “double standard and attitude of the port customs officials.”
According to these traders, import of products with more customs duty including fruits has declined with fruits import is now on a halt due to imposing customs duty in proportion to the number of vehicle’s wheels.
Besides, delay in releasing imported products results in rise of charges discouraging traders to avoid the Hill port, claimed the traders.
Previously, all kinds of products including fruits, spare automobile parts, and fabrics came through the Hilli land port. Currently, a small number of products including stone and press cake are being imported, port Public Relation Officer Sohrab Hossain told Bangla Tribune.
Lower import results fall in revenue and opportunity to the port workers,’ he added.
If import of products with high tariffs including fruits increases the NBR’s target can be attain then, port’s Revenue Officer Siddique said.