রবিবার, ০৮ নভেম্বর ২০২৬, ০৫:৫১ অপরাহ্ন
DHAKA, Nov 8, 2026 (BSS) – Customs intelligence officials have foiled an attempt to evade around Tk 46 crore in government revenue by detecting a consignment of cosmetics and more than 40 lakh fake cigarette tax stamps imported under the declaration of printing machines at Chattogram Port.
The National Board of Revenue’s (NBR) Central Intelligence Cell (CIC), in collaboration with the Audit, Investigation and Research (AIR) branch of Chattogram Customs House, detected the irregularities during a detailed examination of the consignment on November 5.
The consignment was imported by China Mart, located at Shop No. 3C004A, Level 3, Block A, Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka. It arrived at Chattogram Port on August 9, 2026, with printing machines declared as the imported goods.
However, the joint examination found a large quantity of cosmetics and 40.80 lakh fake cigarette tax stamps instead of the declared printing machines.
According to an NBR press release, the seized counterfeit stamps were designed for use on packets of 20 low-segment cigarettes.
The prescribed retail price of a 20-stick low-segment cigarette packet in Bangladesh is Tk 130, against which the government receives Tk 106.60 in revenue.
Based on this calculation, the use of counterfeit stamps for illegal cigarette production and marketing could have caused an estimated revenue loss of Tk 43.50 crore to the government.
Besides, officials have initially estimated potential revenue evasion of around Tk 2.50 crore through the import of the cosmetics found in the consignment.
Thus, the combined potential revenue loss from the counterfeit cigarette stamps and the undeclared cosmetics amounts to approximately Tk 46 crore, the release said.
The NBR noted that the use of counterfeit cigarette stamps for illegal production and marketing deprives the government of substantial tax revenue and creates unfair competition for legally operating tobacco manufacturers and distributors.
Such activities also pose a threat to the country’s revenue administration and legitimate business environment.
The NBR said it remains committed to preventing irregularities in import and export trade, misdeclaration of goods, customs duty and tax evasion, and the marketing of illegal products.
It added that intelligence surveillance and risk-based enforcement activities would continue, while legal proceedings against those involved in the incident were underway.
