Monday, May 06, 2024
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has suspended all export-import activities and frozen the bank accounts of Abdul Monem Ltd and its sister concerns, including Abdul Monem Sugar Refinery Ltd, based on allegations of fraud regarding imported bonded sugar.
According to an order of the Customs Bond Commissionerate, Dhaka, dated April 23, Abdul Monem Sugar Refinery has illegally removed 5,00,000 tonnes of raw sugar from their bonded warehouse in two phases without paying customs duties.
Customs has proof of this irregularity and initially filed a case. Tk 1,094,69,60,342 of duty and penalty was imposed against the company in the verdict of that case. The NBR directed the group to pay this amount of revenue in six instalments.
But the company deposited only Tk 533 crore. The remaining Tk 674 crore has not been deposited yet.
As a result, NBR has ordered several banks to freeze the company's accounts with them and report back to the Dhaka (South) Customs Bond Commissionerate.
The same order also instructed all seaports, land ports and airports to stop all imports and exports using the business identification numbers assigned to the group. It also said that customs clearance of products, which have been imported at these ports, will not be given.
Dhaka (South) Customs Bond Commissionerate has written to concerned banks and customs houses to take action in this regard as per Section 202 (1)(A)(B)(C)(D)(E) and (F) of the Customs Act 1969.
A copy of the order, signed by Bond Commissionerate Deputy Commissioner Dwaipayan Chakma, was also sent to the Export Promotion Bureau. Besides, bond officers concerned have been asked not to disburse any raw materials brought to the bond facilities by Abdul Monem Sugar Refinery.
