Cigarettes worth Tk 19 crore seized in Ctg

Officials of Chattogram Customs House seized a container of cigarettes worth Tk 19 crore which was imported under false declaration last night.

The container was imported with the declaration that it container clothing accessories for garments industry with a bond facility. The tax rate of the declared goods is 0 percent, which can go as high as 120 percent to 600 percent in case of cigarette, customs officials said, reports our Chattogram staff correspondent.

"Savar based trader- Versatile Attire Limited declared the import as garments raw materials which arrived at the Chattogram port at the end of May. Acting on a tip-off, a customs team performed a physical examination and found the container had cigarettes," Rezaul Karim, an assistant commissioner of customs, told The Daily Star.

Legal action will be taken after an investigation is done, he said.

They seized 60 lakh pieces of cigarettes of brands including Mond, Oris and Esse.

Bangladesh prohibits importing foreign-made cigarettes that do not have anti-smoking warning written in Bangla on the packets, officials said.

According to the rules, if the quality of the cigarettes is found to be perfect, the consignment will be sold to Bangladesh Tourism Corporation. Otherwise, it will be destroyed according to the law.