This year’s Eid-ul-Azha rush has seen a boost in the number of cattle being imported across the border in Lalmonirhat, with traders saying the numbers are far higher than previous years.
They also credited the BGB for ensuring that the maximum amount of revenue was collected from cattle importers as corridor tax.
Sirajul Haque, the lessee of the area’s largest cattle market in Patgram’s Rasulganj, said this year has seen a boom in the number of cattle being imported ahead of Eid. Saying most of these cattle have already been sent to different districts, he added that there was no possibility of a cattle shortage like the last year.
According to sources at the Islampur customs corridor office, the 2014-15 fiscal year saw a total 12,602 cattle being imported, compared to the previous fiscal year’s import of 8,419 cattle.
The cattle import trend also continued to experience a rise through to the months of July-August, with the Eid rush boosting import figures to more than five times than that of the last year.
According to the Islampur customs corridor office, only 704 cattle were imported through the Lalmonirhat border during July-August last year, while the number was 3,638 during the same period this year.
According to existing rules, importers have to pay the government Tk500 for every cattle as corridor fee.
During 2013-14 year, over Tk42 lakh was collected as corridor tax, while the number jumped to Tk63 lakh for the recently concluded fiscal year.
Several local cattle traders told the Dhaka Tribune that the BGB’s monitoring of revenue collection has ensured that 100% of the corridor fees were paid this year.
Motiar Rahman, the assistant revenue officer in charge of the Islampur corridor, said: “I alone have to handle the Islampur customs corridor, Patgram customs warehouse, and Patgram VAT circle. Still, the customs corridor has been kept open around the clock in order to collect revenue.”
Customs commissioner for Rangpur division, Mujibur Rahman, also admitted that there was a manpower shortage in the Islampur corridor.
Despite the shortcomings, efforts were on – with the help of Border Guard Bangladesh – to continue the 100% revenue collection from importers who brought in their cattle through the different border areas in Lalmonirhat, he added.
