Seized Indian goods worth Tk6cr allegedly swapped with local products at Benapole

Seized Indian goods worth approximately Tk6 crore were
allegedly removed from a locked warehouse of Benapole Land Port and replaced
with lower-quality local items raising serious questions regarding the port
security system.
Allegations have surfaced that
those Indian products – sarees, three-piece suits, babywear, face wash, creams,
lotions and other cosmetic products – were secretly replaced while under
official custody, creating major concern among customs authorities.
According to customs sources, Safa
Impex, an importer based in Jashore, brought in a consignment from India on 12
March, which was received by Huda Enterprise and subsequently stored in Shed No
37 at Benapole Land Port.
The consignment was then seized under the relevant
provisions of the Customs Act 2023 and placed under the custody of the port
authorities.
Although the import documents
declared the goods as baking powder, a physical inspection by customs officers
uncovered 108 cartons containing Indian sarees, three-piece suits, babywear,
face wash, creams, lotions and other cosmetic products valued at approximately
Tk6 crore.
Customs officials estimated that
the false declaration was intended to evade government revenue amounting to
Tk2.32 crore.
Customs also issued several written
instructions directing the port not to release the shipment until legal
proceedings were concluded.
Sources said customs sent separate
letters warning the port authorities to ensure the security of the seized
consignment.
Despite these instructions, it is alleged that during the Eid holiday period
the confiscated Indian goods were removed from the locked warehouse and
replaced with lower-quality local sarees, three-piece outfits and other
products.
Mohammad Faizur Rahman,
commissioner of Benapole Customs House, said that the substitute goods were
found packed in cartons bearing the names of various local companies.
Investigators also recovered
packages wrapped in Bangladeshi newspapers and bearing labels from domestic
courier services.
"These pieces of evidence
suggest that the replacement goods were brought in from within the
country," Faizur said.
He added that under customs
regulations, responsibility for safeguarding seized goods rests with the
warehouse custodian.
Consequently, a letter has been
sent to the port authority demanding payment of Tk 2.32 crore in lost revenue.
Following the allegations, customs
intelligence officials launched an investigation.
On 2 June, the shipment was
re-examined in the presence of representatives from customs, the port authority
and the business community which reportedly confirmed the allegations.
Mohammad Shamim Hossain, director
(Traffic) of Benapole Land Port, said a three-member inquiry committee had been
formed to investigate the incident.
The committee is headed by Deputy
Director (Traffic) Mohammad Ruhul Amin and has been instructed to submit its
report promptly.
He further stated that Mohammad
Shahjalal, the officer in charge of Shed No 37, had been removed from his post
and served with a show-cause notice. CCTV footage from the relevant period is
also being reviewed.
"If anyone is found to have
been involved, legal action will be taken in accordance with the law," he
said.
Meanwhile, Anisur Rahman,
proprietor of Huda Enterprise, claimed that his firm had never submitted a Bill
of Entry for clearance of the seized consignment.
He alleged that an individual named
Raju had used the company's name to carry out the activities and had informed
customs authorities accordingly.
Several officials associated with
customs and the port claimed that the attempted duty evasion through false
declaration and the subsequent removal of the seized goods may have been part
of a coordinated operation by the same criminal network, aimed at both avoiding
customs duties and destroying evidence.
















