United News of Bangladesh

Benapole Customs House has formed an Investigation, Research and Management (IRM) unit to play an effective role in preserving and securing revenue. Benapole Customs Commissioner issued an office order in this regard on Monday.IRM officers will be considered to be on duty for 24 hours. The IRM will uncover the nature, tactics and information of various types of customs evasion related to import and export activities, preventing illegal activities and suppressing smuggling, according to official documents. Much awaited train service to begin on Benapole-Dhaka route via Padma Bridge Tuesday Various steps have been taken by the Customs House recently to create a taxpayer-friendly environment, including speeding up import-export trade, reducing time, facilitating trade. In continuation of this, effective steps are being taken to accelerate the clearance of import-export goods, create an environment for revenue protection, and prevent customs and tax evasion. This IRM Benapole will collect information through audits, investigations and research, review the information, take effective initiatives to prevent revenue evasion, and inform the Commissioner of the progress in this regard. The functions of the Benapole Investigation, Research and Management (IRM) will be— (a) Collecting intelligence, identifying and uncovering undeclared/undeclared cargo movements inside and outside the port, monitoring revenue collection and clearance processes and taking legal action to prevent smuggling; Police recover three bodies near Benapole border (b) Regularly identifying cargo movements eligible for physical examination by reviewing Asycuda World System for risky entities, HS codes and, where applicable, Import General Manifest (IGM); (c) Physical inspection of all imported sensitive and customs-risky goods, such as assorted goods, all types of fabrics, all types of new and old motor parts (two wheelers, three wheelers, four wheelers, etc.), bicycle parts, electronic and electrical goods, cosmetics and cosmetic products, machinery and parts imported on commercial concessional basis, industrial parts, medical equipment and surgical goods, imitation jewellery, all types of batteries, all types of tyres and tubes; (d) Collection of various secret information, round-the-clock surveillance in the revenue collection and clearance process and taking effective measures to prevent revenue evasion; (e) Supervising the process of unloading goods at various places including International Checkpost, Cargo Branch, Customs Gate Control (CGC Gate-9) and Customs BGB Joint Post: (f) Ensuring close supervision of IRM officers on a case-to-case basis in the matter of loading activities from the relevant sheds of the cargo port to domestic trucks/vans; (g) Analysing the information received from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Department and other agencies, taking necessary action including IGM, Bill of Entry Lock, where applicable (h) If irregularities are discovered during physical examination, immediately submit the detention/irregularity report to the Commissioner with documents for taking necessary action; (i) Co-opting the IRM team in various activities including further verification, re-physical examination of any goods consignment in the interest of proper customs clearance and revenue protection; (j) Jointly carry out physical inspection activities on a case-to-case basis with the permission of the inspection officer in charge of import inspection and the inspection officer in charge of IRM; (k) Physical inspection of goods consignments worth more than 40 thousand US dollars or ready-made garments declared more than 20 thousand pieces (shirts, pants, t-shirts, under garments, etc.) in the case of export; (l) Any other duty assigned by the Commissioner of Customs.

Around 5,000 trucks loaded with goods are waiting to cross into Bangladesh at India's Petrapole land port,  on the other side of the Benapole border. While they have been stranded, trade between the two countries has been greatly affected. It has already had a major impact on revenue collection (import duties).

Trade between neighbours India and Bangladesh has been completely cut off from Monday through the Benapole port due to the movement of the Trinamool Congress, the ruling party in West Bengal state, in Bangaon of India.