Tk37.90 lakh fined for trying to sell bonded goods in the open market

The Customs Bond Commissionerate Chattogram, on Monday imposed a fine of Tk37.90 lakh on Messrs Panmark Apparels (Pvt) Ltd, an export oriented garments company in Chattogram, for trying to sell bonded goods in the open market.

It has imposed a fine of Tk2,790,768 as well as a redemption frice of Tk10 lakh after finding evidence of attempting to sell the goods in the open market.

The Commissionerate also ordered Panmark to deposit Tk5,186,152 -- including a fine of Tk3,790,768 and the evaded duty amounting to Tk1,395,384 -- in the government treasury with a treasury invoice and to submit an original copy of the treasury invoice within the next 15 days.

Customs Bond Commissionerate Chattogram Commissioner AKM Mahbubur Rahman said the trial process started according to customs law, following the goods seizure report submitted by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Department.

An investigation done by the Customs Bond Commissionerate has proved that there was an attempt by Panmark Apparels, a company of BGMEA director Abdus Salam, to sell bonded goods in the open market. It was fined Tk37.90 lakh after an investigation into the tax evasion, he added.

According to customs law, there is a provision of a two to five times fine for tax evasion. In this context, the apparel company was fined twice, said AKM Mahbubur Rahman, commissioner of the Customs Bond Commissionerate Chattogram.

However, Panmark Apparels Pvt ltd has refuted allegations of tax evasion.

Mohammed Abdus Salam, managing director of Panmark Apparels, said, "Our company has no involvement in the sale of goods in the open market, of goods imported under a bond facility. A gang has committed this crime using the name of the company. We have informed the Customs Bond Commissionerate in writing. "

Abdus Salam, MD of Panmark Apparels Ltd, is a director of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). He was the first-vice president of the previous committee of BGMEA.

According to sources in the Customs Bond Commissionerate, the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Department filed a case against Panmark Apparels on 11 March after seizing the consignment.

The seized goods and vehicles were deposited in government warehouse-3 of the Dhaka Customs House. The case report was sent to the Bond Commissionerate office on 21 March.

On 1 April, the Customs Bond Commissionerate Chittagong served a show cause notice to  Panmark Apparels authorities following the seizure report of customs intelligence.

On 13 April, Panmark Apparels replied that the company was not involved in the incident.

According to the delivery invoice, the consignment of 270 fabric rolls, was going to Iqbal Trading from Panmark Apparels located in Kalurghat Industrial Area of Chattogram.

Jamal Uddin, driver of the seized covered van, said he was heading towards Tanbazar in Narayanganj with Panmark Apparels products from Kalurghat of Chattogram.