UNB, Dhaka :
The government will set up a Port Control Unit (PCU) at Chittagong Customs House at the end of the current month, aiming to curb smuggling of contraband items like uranium, drugs, arms gold and deal with duty evasion tricks.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed recently between United Nations Organisation for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Customs department of the national Board of Revenue (NBR) to this effect.
UNDOC south Asia representative Christina Albertin and NBR member Sultan M Iqbal signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides. State Minister for Finance MA Mannan was present at the signing ceremony at his ministry.
As per the deal, the PCU would work to curb smuggling and other crimes taking prior information from local and international organisations, including the Interpol, United Nations Environment Programme, International Atomic Energy Agency, and using the ultramodern equipment.
UNODC and World Customs Organisation are giving training to six officials of the Customs Wing of the NBR who will work in the PCU.
These officials would have direct communications with the Interpol, United Nation Environment Programme, International Atomic Energy Agency, World Wild Life Fund and such other organizations for their day to day activities.
“The training programme started on January 5 and it will continue till January 18 and we are hopeful to start our activities by the end of this month,” assistant commissioner of Chittagong Customs House Mihaj Abedin told UNB.
He said experts from the Netherlands and Belgium are giving the training. “These six officials will be sent abroad for gathering more knowledge,” he said.
According to the NBR officials, the officers who will be posted in the PCU will perform their duties through risk management on the basis of the information to be gathered from various local and international agencies.
According to the NBR sources, a section of dishonest importers through false declaration or under invoicing evade huge amount of money as duty and other taxes.
The government will set up a Port Control Unit (PCU) at Chittagong Customs House at the end of the current month, aiming to curb smuggling of contraband items like uranium, drugs, arms gold and deal with duty evasion tricks.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed recently between United Nations Organisation for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Customs department of the national Board of Revenue (NBR) to this effect.
UNDOC south Asia representative Christina Albertin and NBR member Sultan M Iqbal signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides. State Minister for Finance MA Mannan was present at the signing ceremony at his ministry.
As per the deal, the PCU would work to curb smuggling and other crimes taking prior information from local and international organisations, including the Interpol, United Nations Environment Programme, International Atomic Energy Agency, and using the ultramodern equipment.
UNODC and World Customs Organisation are giving training to six officials of the Customs Wing of the NBR who will work in the PCU.
These officials would have direct communications with the Interpol, United Nation Environment Programme, International Atomic Energy Agency, World Wild Life Fund and such other organizations for their day to day activities.
“The training programme started on January 5 and it will continue till January 18 and we are hopeful to start our activities by the end of this month,” assistant commissioner of Chittagong Customs House Mihaj Abedin told UNB.
He said experts from the Netherlands and Belgium are giving the training. “These six officials will be sent abroad for gathering more knowledge,” he said.
According to the NBR officials, the officers who will be posted in the PCU will perform their duties through risk management on the basis of the information to be gathered from various local and international agencies.
According to the NBR sources, a section of dishonest importers through false declaration or under invoicing evade huge amount of money as duty and other taxes.
