CHITTAGONG: Bangladesh Finance Minister AMA Muhith has asked customs officials to make all efforts to stop terrorists from shipping goods through border control points.
He said that terrorism has become a major issue now and we have to control borders in a coordinated way so that terrorists cannot enter with contraband goods.
Muhith’s comments came at a programme organised by the National Board of Revenue to mark World Customs Day, which is observed in 179 countries.
Various programmes were organised at nine customs houses including Dhaka and Chittagong with the slogan ‘Coordinated Border Management: An Inclusive Approach for Connecting Stakeholders’.
Customs was once the main source of revenue for the state, but its share fell over the years due to gradual reduction of duties in line with the government’s goal to liberalise trade.
Today, customs accounts for 27 percent of revenues, while value-added tax and income tax account for the rest, according to Muhith.
