The release of at least three consignments without inspection from Chattogram Port, using the login credentials of a top customs official in June-July – despite the recent measures taken to prevent such frauds from reoccurring – is an alarming development. Not only does it cost the state coffers in unpaid duties and taxes, but it also raises a number of national security concerns. That consignments are being allowed into the country without inspection raises the obvious question as to what their contents were. Even though the consignments were not supposed to contain illegal items, as per the documents in the National Board of Revenue (NBR) server, the fact that they were released without any inspection, and that the NBR server was breached to release them, means that such possibilities cannot be ruled out.

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NBR Server Breach: Safeguards not working

According to customs officials investigating the case, the ID of an additional commissioner of Chattogram Custom was used to unlock the suspended business identification number (BIN) of EA Chen Textile Corporation located in Cumilla Export Processing Zone, which was locked on March 1 by the Chattogram Customs Bond Commissionerate for evading duties and taxes amounting to Tk 8.6 crore and misusing the bond facility. A locked BIN means the company is barred from export-import activities. So, the fact that consignments of a BIN-locked company have been released for the first time without any kind of supervision or inspection is a matter that demands serious investigation.

What is not new, however, is the use of a customs official's login credentials for the NBR server to release imported goods illegally. Last year, at least 21 import consignments were released unlawfully using the IDs of at least seven revenue officials. Investigators at that time blamed the breach on a cyber-criminal gang. But so far, they have been unable to identify the gang and its members. According to one customs officer, the accused remained unidentified in the previous incidents due to incomplete investigation and not taking punitive measures against the culprits. Why the authorities failed to properly complete the investigation is anyone's guess. But we must ask, how did such a breach take place again even after the NBR apparently took a number of measures last December to prevent the reoccurrence of such incidents?

Moreover, on June 29, customs officials assigned to do a physical examination of the consignments in question reportedly gave clearance even though the submitted documents contained false bank documents and import permit from the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority. Why was this allowed to happen?

Clearly, there are a number of questions and issues that are yet to be resolved. But one thing is for sure – the facts on the ground that raise such questions are extremely concerning. The authorities need to unearth the truth of what happened. Inconclusive investigations that roll on for months, if not years, are not what we need. And because of the sensitivity and nature of the case, it is urgent that the authorities involve independent experts who can unbiasedly look into what really happened.