The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is finally going to purchase six container scanners worth Tk 327 crore from a Chinse company which will boost examination of export and import consignments and curb duty evasion through false declarations.

The NBR made scanning of all containers mandatory in 2009 to prevent import of goods through misdeclarations and smuggling of arms and ammunition.

Taking into consideration the trade volume and time constraints, this has not been possible using the existing 10 scanners, including eight in the Chattogram port.

This means around 58 per cent of import and export-laden containers pass borders without a visual check.

Four of the new scanners will be installed in the Chattogram port and one each at the Benapole customs house and Bhomra land customs station, according to the NBR.

They are expected to play an important role in the prevention of smuggling as well as faster clearance of goods from ports.

The NBR signed a deal with Nuctech Company yesterday to purchase the six.

Abdul Mannan Shikder, member (duty, audit, modernisation and international trade) of the NBR, and Hou Wenyi, a representative of Nuctech Company, signed the contract.

Under this agreement, the company will provide the scanners within the next eight months.

The agreement signing ceremony was presided over by NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Munim.

On November 23 last year, the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved a proposal for the purchase under Internal Resources Division (IRD).

An NBR source said the NBR and IRD had planned to buy 14 container scanners in October 2019.

The NBR initiated two tenders in 2019 and 2021 but those did not yield any result. A third was initiated in June this year in which three companies placed bids.

Source : thedailystar.net/ For more details