Alleged breach of rules involving imported cars: Customs locks UNHCR BIN

Bangladesh customs has locked the business-identification number (BIN) of the United Nations refugee agency for alleged deviations regarding imported cars, thus suspending its goods-release permission.

Senior customs officials said they detected irregularities involving the use of 46 vehicles the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had imported under duty-free facility.

Until the UNHCR Dhaka office clears the payable duty-taxes worth Tk 760 million against the vehicle imports, the customs would not be able to unlock their BIN for clearance of goods, they added.

They mentioned that the UN agency handed over the vehicles to different organisations in breach of the conditions binding privilege or diplomatic bond facility.

There have been several notices and letters issued by now over the matter, they said, but to no response as yet.

"We have waited a year to resolve the issue but the UN organisation has not cooperated, claiming that they would come through the ministry of foreign affairs," says a senior customs official.

As per the Customs Act 1969, diplomats and UN organisations are entitled to duty-free facility on import of goods for their own use.

Transfer of those goods, imported under tax-free benefit only for their official use, sans customs consent is stipulated as a punishable offence.

Chattogram Customs House (CCH) in the port city has found some 46 vehicles, mostly luxury ones, imported by the UNHCR Bangladesh chapter in different shipments in 2018.

In the lot, the customs found 18 brand-new land-cruiser Prado cars, four land- cruiser ambulances, one land-cruiser hardtop diesel, three trucks and 20 other vehicles including five HIACE and 15 pickups.

A letter of the CCH, sent in to customs houses across the country on the BIN blocking, says the UNHCR would have to obtain prior customs approval for handover to or allowing other organisations to use their duty-free vehicles.

They have found the ministry of disaster management and relief, the Refugee Relief Repatriation Commissioner and other operational and implementing partners of the UNHCR using the vehicles under an agreement with the UN agency on receipt and right use of its assets.

Last November, the Customs Commissioner of CCH requested UNHCR representatives to get the issue resolved through legal process. The response was that the UNHCR would not be able to attend hearing as per "established practice of UN Conventions", the sources said.

The customs authorities have found a note verbale of the UNHCR under which a standing order of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) conspicuously stands disregarded.

Mostafa Mohammad Sazzad Hossain, a spokesperson for the UNHCR Bangladesh office, says the status of the UNHCR and its officials is governed by the applicable rules and regulations on UN privileges and immunities as they apply in any country.

"In this respect, UNHCR is exempted from customs duties and receives immunity from legal process as a UN agency in Bangladesh," he notes to clear the agency's position on the dispute.

"UNHCR has not violated any government regulation on import and export. However, UNHCR is currently in discussion with the Government of Bangladesh to solve this issue."

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