Government revenue evaded through fake travel tax at Benapole customs checkpost

Government revenue is being evaded at Benapole International Customs Checkpost through the use of fake travel tax receipts, according to customs officials.

A broker group operating at the checkpost is reportedly defrauding the government by issuing fraudulent receipts to travellers, bypassing official tax payments.

Customs officials arrested a broker, identified as Anisur Rahman, for issuing a fake travel tax receipt to Rekha Sheel, an Indian passport holder, on Sunday, according to authorities.

He allegedly extorted Tk1,300 from Sheel under the pretence of quickly clearing her immigration and customs process. Instead of depositing the payment in a bank, Rahman slipped another passenger's tax receipt into her passport, officials said.

Both Rahman and Sheel were detained by customs officers, though Rahman was reportedly released after associates intervened by paying a significant sum. Sheel was later allowed to travel to India after paying the required tax again.

"Efforts are underway to eliminate passport brokers from the customs area," Kamrun Nahar, a revenue officer at Benapole Customs, said. "We are working with zero tolerance on such matters."

Imtiaz Hossain, the officer in charge of Benapole immigration police, acknowledged the incident and said it occurred before his recent appointment. "The passenger was released after paying the correct travel tax," Hossain said.

Md. Sajib Nazir, deputy director of Benapole Port, confirmed there is an organized group involved in evading government revenue through travel tax fraud at the checkpost. He noted, however, that the responsibility for addressing this issue lies with customs authorities.