Benapole (Jessore), July 15 (UNB)–The incidents of tax evasion by giving false declaration while importing goods through Benapole land port are on the rise.

The government is being deprived of huge revenue as a large number of importers evade tax while bringing goods through the land port.

Sources said tax evasion by false declarations in the land port has been increasing day by day.

Benapole customs department realised Tk 35 crore in fine in 294 cases of goods imported through false declaration in fiscal 2011-12.

Akbar Hossain, joint commissioner of Benapole Customs House said they detected 218 cases of false declaration in fiscal 2010-2011 and realised
Tk 18.77 crore in fine during the period.

It often occurs in collaboration with customs and port officials, importers and C&F Agent Association in the land port area.

Benapole customs department source said that the customs officials detected 34 cases of false declaration and realised Tk. 4.31 crore in fine from the concerned importers in July in last fiscal year (2011-12) while 41 cases were detected and Tk 4.62 crore was realised in August.

In September 22 cases were detected and Tk 2.67 crore was realised in fine, in October, 28 cases were detected and Tk 3.35 crore was realised, In November, 22 cases were detected and Tk 2.55 lakh was realised, in December, 25 cases were detected and Tk 2.78 crore was realised, in January, 27 cases were detected and Tk 3.06 lakh was realised,  in February, 8 cases were detected and Tk 62.34 lakh was realised, in March, 14 cases were detected and Tk 2.10 crore was realised, in May, 15 cases detected and Tk 2.8 lakh was realized and in June, 32 cases were detected and Tk 4.41 crore was realised in fine.

C&F Agent Association President Sirajul Islam said, some dishonest customs officials are directly involved with importing goods by false declaration.