BENAPOLE, JASHORE, Jan 12: Benapole Customs House, the country's largest land port, has recorded a revenue shortfall of around Tk 1,013 crore in the first six months of the current 2025-26 fiscal year compared to the set target.
Officials and stakeholders attribute the gap mainly to a decline in imports, trade restrictions and a rise in duty evasion through false declarations.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) set an overall revenue target of Tk 8,370 crore for Benapole Customs House for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Of this, the target for the first six months from July to December was Tk 4,133 crore. However, actual revenue collection during the period stood at only Tk 3,120.05 crore.
Business leaders said that following the political changes in August 2024, weaknesses in trade security created opportunities for unscrupulous groups to smuggle imported goods and evade customs duties. At the same time, import bans on several products have significantly reduced overall import activities at the port.
Importer Habibur Rahman said, the Benapole port has the capacity to generate around Tk 10,000 crore in revenue annually. "But after the political changes on August 5, 2024, trade security weakened, allowing some dishonest traders to smuggle goods and evade duties. Moreover, import restrictions on several items have severely hampered revenue collection," he added.
Mustafizzuha Selim, Office Secretary of the Benapole C&F Agents Traders' Association, said many traders have reduced their use of the Benapole port due to a lack of legitimate facilities. "If import restrictions are lifted, cargo clearance is expedited and a business-friendly environment is ensured, both imports and revenue earnings will increase," he said.
Azim Uddin Gazi, General Secretary of the Benapole Transport Owners' Association, said that while security measures are necessary, prolonged truck detention and repeated searches are discouraging traders. "If modern scanning machines are installed at entry points, as seen in India, harassment will decrease and trade will gain momentum," he said.
According to the Benapole Port Authority, daily imports that once ranged between 600 and 700 trucks have now dropped to around 250 trucks. The decline in imports has not only affected revenue collection but has also had negative impacts on labourers and the transport sector.
Benapole Land Port Director Shamim Hossain said that on January 10, only 256 trucks of goods were imported from India through Benapole, while 80 trucks of goods were exported.
Benapole Customs House Assistant Commissioner Rahat Hossain provided a monthly breakdown of revenue collection, noting that Tk 544.04 crore was collected in July against a target of Tk 508 crore. In August, Tk 447.93 crore was collected against a target of Tk 493 crore; in September, Tk 513.58 crore against Tk 601 crore; in October, Tk 449.28 crore against Tk 645 crore; in November, Tk 564.41 crore against Tk 755 crore; and in December, Tk 600.81 crore against a target of Tk 1,131 crore.
He said those involved in duty evasion have been identified and punished under customs laws, including fines. Despite the shortfall in the first six months, he expressed optimism that the annual revenue target could still be achieved by the end of the fiscal year.
