The National Board of Revenue plans to buy 14 container scanners to boost examination of export and import consignments and curb evasion of duties through false declaration.
“We currently have 11 scanners and the number is very low compared to the requirement. Moreover, the time for replacing some of the scanners is nearing,” said Md Raich Uddin Khan, first secretary for customs and international trade at the NBR.
“So, we have decided to purchase new machines as scanning has been made mandatory for export and import containers from the current fiscal year.”
Washington-based think-tank Global Financial Integrity earlier this year said $5.9 billion flew out of Bangladesh in 2015 through mis-invoicing in trade with advanced countries. Introduction of more scanners will ease the pressure on physical examination and cut clearance time for containers, Khan said. The scanning machines could be made ready to use at custom houses by the next fiscal year, he said.
