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Modern scanners at HSIA to increase revenue


Published : 18 Dec 2019 09:43 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 03:59 PM

To prevent smuggling, ensure cent percent physical examination and unloading of goods at a faster pace, the authority concerned is installing the latest scanners at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), sources at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) confirmed. It was learned that to increase the revenue collection, prevent smuggling at HSIA and Dhaka Customs, quick physical examination of imported goods and fastest passenger goods unloading, the authority has the plan to establish four latest scanners at HSIA and Dhaka Customs. In this regard, these scanners are to be installed at the airfreight cargo gate and at Dhaka Customs Courier gate.

These scanners called Rapiscan Scanners are imported from Malaysia. The rest two scanners will be installed at HSIA, and are called Smith Detection Scanner to reach the airport at the end of this month from Germany. In the meantime, a high-level team of NBR visited Germany. It is to be noted, at present, there is no latest scanner at Dhaka Customs and airfreight gate. Due to the lack of such modern equipment, officials have to examine imported goods physically, which takes a long time, and sometimes they are unable to detect illegal goods.

However, the authority while adding such modern scanner will help them to scan products automatically, detect illegal goods and increase revenue earnings. On condition of anonymity, a customs official said, once the new scanner installation is completed, imported goods will directly reach the courier gate from aircraft through the scanner. These scanners can detect drugs, medicine, arms, bomb-making equipment and anything strictly prohibited to import.

On the other hand, with the two scanners, the number of scanners will stand at four at HSIA. It will help to reduce the queue at the green channel when multiple flights land simultaneously. As a result, passengers will be able to get their luggage within a few minutes.  Dhaka Customs House assistant commissioner Md Sajjad Hossain said, with the installation of these scanners, any goods imported through false declaration, import of banned goods and smuggling will be stopped. At the same time, the installation of two scanners in HSIA will increase the quality of passenger service.