Hili land port in Dinajpur has maintained a phenomenal 143% year-on-year growth in revenue collection despite the Covid-19 pandemic, surpassing its revenue target for the current fiscal year 2020-21.
Despite its target of Tk243.81 crore for the 10 months of the fiscal, the land port bagged Tk350.24 crore from July 2020 up to April this year, Tk106.43 crore more than the set target.
"We have maintained growth in revenue collection since the beginning of the current financial year. That trend continues in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. This was possible as we could prevent irregularities and harassment in the import and export of goods through our port," said Saidul Alam, deputy commissioner, Hili Land Customs Station.
In the remaining two months of the financial year, it will be possible to collect more revenue, the customs authorities said.
According to the Hili Land Customs Office, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has set a target of Tk314.13 crore for revenue collection from the land port in the current fiscal.
According to that calculation, in the first July of the financial year, against the target of Tk6.64 crore, Tk43.28 crore was collected. During this period, the growth in revenue collection stood at 652%, though at the same time last year it was 153%.
In August, against the target of Tk13.30 crore, Tk 20.86 crore was collected, a 156% growth rate against 54% in the same month of the previous fiscal.
In September, against the target of Tk9.8 crore, Tk20.63 crore was raised.
In October, against the target of Tk18.1 crore, Tk18.68 crore was collected.
In November, against the target of Tk31.9 crore, Tk26.6 crore was collected.
In December, against the target of Tk51.16 crore, Tk 22.21 crore was collected.
In January, against the target of Tk27.88 crore, Tk20.81 crore was collected.
In February, against the target of Tk29.85 crore, Tk47.19 crore was collected, resulting in a 157% growth.
In March, against the target of Tk24.43 crore, Tk 61.34 crore was raised, posting a 251% growth in revenue collection from last year.
In April, against the target of Tk31.56 crore, Tk68.62 crore was raised, with a growth rate of 218%.
Traders are being encouraged to import, export goods through this port, as all activities inside the port are closely monitored and quick decisions, and solutions are provided to the importers regarding fair and equitable problems in import and export, Saidul Alam also said.
The port continues to import various products including stone, wheat, khail, bran and spices.
A total of 171,000 tons of rice alone is imported through Hili land port alone, which may cause the revenue collection to surge, Saidul added.