Short title, extent and commencement
1. (1) This Act may be called the
Customs Act, 1969.
(2) It extends to the whole of Bangladesh.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, appoint.
Definitions
2. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,-
[ (a) “agent” means any person, including a shipping agent, clearing and forwarding agent, cargo agent, [ and freight forwarding agent], licensed under section 207, or any person permitted to transact any business under section 208;]
[ (aa) “Appellate Tribunal” means the Customs, Excise and মূল্য সংযোজন কর Appellate Tribunal constituted under section 196;]
(b) “appropriate officer”, in relation to any functions to be performed under this Act, means the officer of Customs to whom such functions have been assigned by or under this Act;
[ (bb) “Bangladesh customs-waters” means the waters extending into the sea to a distance of [twenty four nautical miles] measured from the appropriate base line on the coast of Bangladesh;]
[ (c) “ bill of entry” means a bill of entry delivered under section 79 or section 104, and includes, an electronically transmitted bill of entry in such cases and in such manner containing such particulars as the Board may specify;]
[ (d) “bill of export” means a bill of export delivered under section 131, and includes an electronically transmitted bill of export in such cases and in such manner containing such particulars as the Board may specify;]
[ (e) “Board” means the National Board of Revenue constituted under the National Board of Revenue Order, 1972 (President's Order No. 76 of 1972);]
(f) “coastal goods” means goods transported in a vessel from one port in Bangladesh to another, but does not include imported goods on which customs-duty has not been paid;
[ (ff) “container” means a receptacle of permanent nature, having an internal volume of one metre or more, fully or partially enclosed to constitute a compartment for containing goods and specially designed to facilitate carriage of goods by one or more modes of transport, without intermediate reloading, and ready handling, particularly when transferred from one mode of transport to another and strong enough for repeated use;
(fff) “controlling authority”, in relation to any customs-airport, customs-port, customs-inland container depot or customs-station, means the owner or legal occupier thereof or any person having legal control thereof;]
(g) “conveyance” means any means of transport used for carrying goods or passengers such as a vessel, aircraft, vehicle or animal;
(h) “customs-airport” means any airport declared under section 9 to be a customs-airport;
(i) “customs-area” means the limits of the customs-station specified under section 10 and includes any area in which imported goods or goods for export are ordinarily kept before clearance by the customs authorities;
[ (ii) “Customs computer system” means the customs computerised entry processing system established by the Board for the purposes of this Act;]
[ (iii) “customs-inland container depot” means any place declared under section 9 to be a customs-inland container depot;]
[ (iiii) “customs inland-water container terminal” means any place declared under section 9 as a customs inland-water container terminal;]
(j) “customs-port” means any place declared under section 9 to be a port for the shipment and landing of goods;
[ (k) “customs station” means any customs port, customs airport, land customs stations, customs inland-water container terminal or such other place as may be declared, from time to time, under section 9; ]
[ (kk) “export manifest” means an export manifest delivered or transmitted under section 53, to customs computer system or, in manual form where use of customs computer system is not available, by the registered user and includes an export cargo manifest; transit cargo and cargo for transhipment; and advance passenger and crew information, in such manner and with such particulars as the Board may specify;]
(l) “goods” means all movable goods and includes-
(i) conveyances,
(ii) stores and materials,
[ (iii) baggage,
(iv) currency and negotiable instruments,
(v) electronic data.]
[ (ll) “import manifest” means an import manifest delivered or transmitted under sections 43 & 44, to customs computer system or, in manual form where use of customs computer system is not available, by the registered user and includes an import cargo manifest; transit cargo and cargo for transhipment; and advance passenger and crew information, in such manner and with such particulars as the Board may specify;]
(m) “land customs-station” means any place including an inland river port declared under section 9 to be a land customs-station;
(n) “master” when used in relation to any vessel, means any person, except a pilot or harbour master, having command or charge of such vessel;
(o) “officer of Customs” means an officer appointed under section 3;
[ * * *]
[ (pp) “person” includes a company, partnership, association, firm or a body of persons;]
(q) “person-in-charge” means-
(i) in relation to a vessel, the master of the vessel;
(ii) in relation to an aircraft, the commander or pilot in charge of the aircraft;
(iii) in relation to a railway train, the conductor, guard or other person having the chief direction of the train;
(iv) in relation to any other conveyance, the driver or any other person having control of the conveyance;
[ (qq) “pre-shipment inspection agency” means any person appointed under section 25A as a pre-shipment inspection agency and includes a representative of that person;]
[ (qqa) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules or order, as the case may be;]
[ (qqq) “registered user”, in relation to a Customs computer system, means a user of that system and registered for the purposes of this Act;]
(r) “rules” means the rules made under this Act;
[ (s) “smuggle” means to bring into or take out of Bangladesh in breach of any prohibition or restriction for the time being in force; or evading payment of customs-duties or taxes leviable thereon,-
(a) narcotics, narcotic drugs or psychotropic substance; or
(b) gold bullion, silver bullion, platinum, palladium, radium, precious stones, currency, manufactures of gold or silver or platinum or palladium or precious stones, or any other goods notified by the Government in the official Gazette, in each case exceeding [ Taka ten lakhs] in value; or
[(bb) any goods in breach of payment guidelines of Bangladesh Bank; or]
(c) any goods concealed in any manner in any place on board any ship, vessel or aircraft or in any other vehicle or in any baggage or cargo or on person; or
(d) any other goods by any route other than a route declared under section 9 or 10 from any place other than a customs-station; and includes an attempt, abetment or connivance of so bringing in or taking out of such goods; and all cognate words and expressions shall be construed accordingly;]
[ [ (t) “special bonded warehouse” means a private warehouse licensed under section 13 and which is a hundred percent export oriented industry to be determined as such by the Board for the purpose of exemption from the provision of sub-section (2) of section 91;]
(tt) “warehouse” means of place appointed under section 12 or a place licensed under section 13;]
(u) “warehousing station” means a place declared as a warehousing station under section 11;
(v) “wharf ” means any place in customs-port approved under clause (b) of section 10 for the loading and unloading of goods or any class of goods.
Act to override other laws
[2A.Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, or any other legal instrument having the force of law, the provisions of this Act shall have the effect.]
Chapter II
APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS OF CUSTOMS AND THEIR POWERS
Appointment of officers of Customs
[3. For the purposes of this Act, the Board may, by notification in the official Gazette, appoint, in relation to any area or function specified in the notification, any person to be-
[(a) a Chief Commissioner of Coustoms;
(aa) a Commissioner of Coustoms;]
(b) a Commissioner of Customs (Appeal);
(c) a Commissioner of Customs (Bond);
(d) a Commissioner of Customs (Valuation and Internal Audit);
[(dd) a Commissioner of Customs (Single Window); ]
(e) a Director General (Customs Intelligence and Investigation);
[(f) a Director General (Audit, Intelligence and Investigation, Value Added Tax);]
(g) a Director General (Duty Exemption and Drawback);
(h) a Director General (Training);
[(hh) a Director General, Central Intelligence Cell;]
[(hhh) a Director General (Customs Risk Management Unit);]
[(i) an Additional Commissioner of Customs or an Additional Director General or a Director (Central Intelligence Cell) [or an Additional Director General (Customs Risk Management Unit)];
(j)a Joint Commissioner of Customs or a Director or a Joint Director (Central Intelligence Cell) [or a Director General (Customs Risk Management Unit)];]
(k) a Deputy Commissioner of Customs or a Deputy Director;
(l) an Assistant Commissioner of Customs or an Assistant Director;
[ (ll) a Revenue Officer;]
(m) an officer of Customs with any other designation.]
Powers and duties of officers of Customs
4. An officer of Customs appointed under section 3 shall exercise such powers and discharge such duties as are conferred or imposed on him by or under this Act; and he shall also be competent to exercise all powers and discharge all duties conferred or imposed upon any officer subordinate to him:
Provided that, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or the rules, the Board may, by general or special order, impose such limitations or conditions on the exercise of such powers and discharge of such duties as it thinks fit.
Delegation of powers
[5. The Board may, by notification in the official Gazette, and subject to such limitations or conditions, if any, as may be specified therein, empower by name or designation-
[(a) any Additional Commissioner of Customs to exercise any of the powers of a Commissioner of Customs specified in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of section 3;]
(b) any Joint Commissioner of Customs to exercise any of the powers of an Additional Commissioner of Customs or a Commissioner of Customs [specified at clauses (a), (c) and (d) of section 3];
(c) any Deputy Commissioner of Customs to exercise any of the powers of a Joint Commissioner of Customs or an Additional Commissioner of Customs;
(d) any Assistant Commissioner of Customs to exercise any of the powers of a Deputy Commissioner of Customs;
(e) any other officer of Customs to exercise any of the powers of an Assistant Commissioner of Customs.]
Entrustment of functions of customs officers to certain other officers
[6. (1) The Board may, by an official order, entrust, conditionally or unconditionally, any function of an officer of customs under this Act to any other officer of the Government.
(2) No officer entrusted with any function of an officer of customs under sub-section (1) shall interfere in any manner in the performance of any function by an officer of customs in places notified under section 9.]
Assistance to the officers of Customs
[7. Assistance to the officers of customs.- All officers and staffs of government and semi-government organizations, law enforcement agencies, security forces, autonomous bodies, statutory bodies, financial institutions, educational institutions, private organizations, local government and non-government organizations shall assist the officers of customs in the discharge of their functions under this Act.]
Exemption from service on jury or inquest or as assessors
8. Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, no officer of the Board or Commissioner of Customs and no other officer of Customs whom the Board or Commissioner of Customs deems it necessary to exempt on grounds of public duty, shall be compelled to serve on [an inquest].
Chapter III
DECLARATION OF PORTS, AIRPORTS, LAND CUSTOMS- STATIONS, ETC.
Declaration of customs-ports, customs-airports, etc.
9. The Board may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare-
(a) the ports and airports which alone shall be customs-ports or customs-airports for the unloading of imported goods and loading of goods for export or any class of such goods;
(b) the places which alone shall be land customs-stations [or customs-inland container depot] [or customs inland-water container terminal] for the clearance of goods or any class of goods imported or to be exported by land or inland waterways;
(c) the routes by which alone goods or any class of goods specified in the notification may pass by land or inland waterways into or out of Bangladesh, or to or from any land customs-station [or customs stations] or to or from any land frontier;
(d) the places which alone shall be ports for the carrying on of coastal trade with any specified customs-ports in Bangladesh; and
(e) what shall for the purposes of this Act be deemed to be a custom-house and the limits thereof.
Power to approve landing places and specify limits of customs-stations
10. The Board may, by notification in the official Gazette-
(a) specify the limits of any customs-station; and
(b) approve proper places in any customs-station for the loading and unloading of goods or any class of goods.
Power to declare warehousing stations
11. The Board may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare places to be warehousing stations at which alone public warehouses may be appointed and private warehouses may be licensed.
Power to appoint public warehouses
12. At any warehousing station, the [Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board] may, from time to time, appoint public warehouses wherein dutiable goods may be deposited without payment of customs-duty.
Licensing of Private warehouses
[ 13. (1) Subject to sub-section (2), at any warehousing station, the Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board may, license private warehouses wherein dutiable goods imported by or on behalf of the licensee, or any other imported goods in respect of which facilities for deposit in a public warehouse are not available, may be deposited.
(2) The Board may, from time to time, by notification in the official Gazette, impose conditions, limitations or restrictions-
(a) on granting licence for private warehouse;
(b) on goods to be warehoused; and
(c) on import entitlement of the warehouse.
(3) The Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board may, suspend or cancel a licence granted under sub-section (1)-
(a) if the licensee contravenes any provision of this Act or the rules made thereunder or commits breach of any of the conditions of the licence; or
(b) in the case where, he deems fit, a license to be suspended or cancelled in the public interest:
Provided that in case of cancellation of any licence, the licensee shall be served with a show cause notice of thirty days, and be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
[ (c) In case of suspension under clause (b), the Business Identification Number (BIN) of the licensee issued under
মূল্য সংযোজন কর আইন, ১৯৯১ (১৯৯১ সনের ২২ নং আইন) shall remain suspended till the disposal of the matter.]]
Stations for officers of Customs to board and land
14. The Commissioner of Customs may, from time to time, appoint, in or near any customs-ports, stations or limits at or within which vessels arriving at or departing from such port shall bring to for the boarding or landing of officers of customs, and may, unless separate provisions therefore have been made under the
Ports Act, 1908 (XV of 1908) direct at what particular place in any such port vessels, not brought into port by pilots, shall anchor or moor.
Chapter IV
PROHIBITION AND RESTRICTION OF IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION
Prohibitions
15. No goods specified in the following clauses shall be brought, whether by air or land or sea, into Bangladesh:-
(a) counterfeit coin;
(b) forged or counterfeit currency notes [ and any other counterfeit product];
(c) any obscene book, pamphlet, paper, drawing, painting, representation, figure, photograph, film or article [ , video or audio recording, CDs or recording on any other media];
(d) [ goods having applied thereto a counterfeit trade mark within the meaning of the Penal Code ( Act XLV of 1860), or a false trade description within the meaning of the ট্রেডমার্ক আইন, ২০০৯ (২০০৯ সনের ১৯ নং আইন) (Trademarks Act, 2009 (Act No. 19 of 2009));]
(e) goods made or produced outside Bangladesh and having applied thereto any name or trade mark, being or purporting to be the name or trade mark of any manufacturer, dealer or trader in Bangladesh unless-
(i) the name or trade mark is, as to every application thereof, accompanied by a definite indication of the goods having been made or produced in a place outside Bangladesh; and
(ii) the country in which that place is situated is in that indication shown in letters as large and conspicuous as any letter in the name or trade mark, and in the same language and character as the name or trade mark;
(f) piece-goods manufactured outside Bangladesh (such as are ordinarily sold by length or by the piece), unless the real length thereof in standard [ metres] or other measurement for the time being applying in Bangladesh has been conspicuously stamped on each piece in Arabic numerals; [ ***]
[ (g) goods made or produced outside Bangladesh and intended for sale, and having applied thereto, a design in which copyright exists under the 56[বাংলাদেশ পেটেন্ট আইন, ২০২২' href='/act-1401.html'>[বাংলাদেশ পেটেন্ট আইন, ২০২২ (২০২২ সনের ৫ নং আইন)] and in respect of the class to which the goods belong and any fraudulent or obvious imitation of such design except when the application of such design has been made with the license or written consent of the registered proprietor of the design;[***]
(h) goods or items produced outside Bangladesh involving infringement of কপিরাইট আইন, ২০০০ (২০০০ সনের ২৮ নং আইন) (Copyright Act, 2000 (Act No. 28 of 2000)] or infringement of layout design of integrated circuit that are intended for sale or use for commercial purposes within the territory of Bangladesh[; and])]
[(i) Goods made or produced outside Bangladesh in violation of the provisions of ভৌগোলিক নির্দেশক পণ্য (নিবন্ধন ও সুরক্ষা) আইন, ২০১৩ (২০১৩ সনের ৫৪ নং আইন) intended for sale or use for commercial purpose within the territory of Bangladesh.]
[Provided that the Government may, by an order in writing, condone, subject to such conditions, limitations or restrictions, if any, as it thinks fit to impose, any Classes of goods from the provision mentioned in sub section [(d), (e), (f), (g) and (h).]]
Power to prohibit or restrict importation and exportation of goods
16. The Government may, from time to time, by notification in the official Gazette, prohibit or restrict the bringing in to or taking out of Bangladesh of any goods of specified description by air, sea or land.
Detention and confiscation of goods imported in breach of section 15 or section 16
[17. Where any goods are imported into or attempted to be exported out of Bangladesh in violation of the provisions of the section 15 or of a notification under section 16, such goods shall, without prejudice to any other penalty to which the offender may be liable under this Act, or any other law, be liable to be detained and confiscated and shall be disposed of in such a manner as may be prescribed.]
Chapter V
LEVY OF, EXEMPTION FROM AND REPAYMENT OF, CUSTOMS-DUTIES
Goods dutiable
[ 18. (1) Except as hereinafter provided, customs-duties shall be levied at such rates as are prescribed in the First Schedule [ * * *] or under any other law for the time being in force on
(a) goods imported into, or exported from, Bangladesh;
(b) goods brought from any foreign country to any customs-station, and without payment of duty there, transhipped or transported for, or thence carried to, and imported at, any other customs station; and
(c) goods brought in bond from one customs station to another [ :
[Provided that no customs duty and regulatory duty under this Act or any other tax leviable under any other law for the time being in force shall, subject to such conditions, limitations or restrictions as the Board may, from time to time, by notification in the official Gazette, impose, be levied or collected in respect thereof, if the value of the goods for assessment purpose in any one consignment does not exceed two thousand taka. ]
[ (2) The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, levy, subject to such conditions, limitations or restrictions as it may deem fit to impose, a regulatory duty on all or any of the goods specified in the First Schedule at the rate not exceeding [ two times of] the highest rate of customs-duty [ * * *] specified in the said Schedule.]
[ Explanation.- The rate of regulatory duty on any such goods may be higher than that of the customs-duty leviable on that goods as prescribed in the said Schedule, provided such regulatory duty does not exceed [ two times of] the highest rate of customs-duty of that Schedule.]
(3) The regulatory duty levied under sub section (2) shall be in addition to any duty imposed under sub section (1) or under any other law for the time being in force.
(4) Any notification issued under sub section (2) shall, if not earlier rescinded, stand rescinded on the expiry of the financial year in which it was issued.]
(5) and (6) [Added by section 5 of অর্থ আইন, ১৯৯৩ (১৯৯৩ সনের ১৮ নং আইন) and subsequently omitted by section 5 of অর্থ আইন, ১৯৯ (১৯৯৫ সনের ১২ নং আইন) ]
Imposition of countervailing duty
[18A. (1) Where any country or territory pays, bestows, directly or indirectly, any subsidy upon the manufacture or production therein or the exportation therefrom of any goods including any subsidy on transportation of such goods, then, upon the importation of any such goods into Bangladesh, whether the same is imported directly from the country of manufacture, production or otherwise, and whether it is imported in the same condition as when exported from the country of manufacture or production or has been changed in condition by manufacture, production or otherwise, the Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, impose a countervailing duty not exceeding the amount of such subsidy.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this section, subsidy shall be deemed to exist, if-
(a) there is financial contribution by a Government, or any public body within the territory of the exporting or producing country, that is, where-
(i) a Government practice involves a direct transfer of funds (including grants, loans and equity infusion) or potential direct transfer of funds or liabilities or both;
(ii) Government revenue that is otherwise due is forgone or not collected (including fiscal incentives);
(iii) a Government provides goods or services other than general infrastructure or purchases goods;
(iv) a Government makes payments to funding mechanism, or entrusts or directs a private body to carry out one or more of the type of functions specified in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) which would normally be vested in the Government and the practice, in no real sense, differs from practices normally followed by Governments; or
(b) a Government grants or maintains any form of income or price support, which operates directly or indirectly to increase export of any goods from, or to reduce import of any goods to its territory, and a benefit is thereby conferred.
(2) The Government may, pending the determination of the amount of subsidy, in accordance with the provisions of this section and the rules made thereunder impose a countervailing duty under this sub-section not exceeding the amount of such subsidy as provisionally estimated by it and if such countervailing duty exceeds the subsidy as so determined,-
(a) the Government shall, having regard to such determination and as soon as may be after such determination reduce such countervailing duty; and
(b) refund shall be made of so much of such countervailing duty which has been collected as is in excess of the countervailing duty as so reduced.
(3) Subject to any rules made by the Government, by notification in the official Gazette, the countervailing duty under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall not be levied unless it is determined that-
(a) the subsidy relates to export performance;
(b) the subsidy relates to the use of domestic raw materials over imported raw materials in the exported goods; or
(c) the subsidy has been conferred on a limited number of persons engaged in manufacturing, producing or exporting the goods unless such a subsidy is for-
(i) research activities conducted by or on behalf of persons engaged in the manufacture, production or export; or
(ii) assistance to disadvantaged regions within the territory of the exporting country; or
(iii) assistance to promote adaptation of existing facilities to new environmental requirements.
(4) If the Government, is of the opinion that the injury to the domestic industry which is difficult to repair, is caused by massive imports in a relatively short period, of the goods benefiting from subsidies paid or bestowed and where in order to preclude the recurrence of such injury, it is necessary to levy countervailing duty retrospectively, the Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, impose countervailing duty from a date prior to the date of imposition of countervailing duty under sub-section (2) but not beyond ninety days from the date of notification under that sub-section and notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, such duty shall be payable from the date as specified in the notification issued under this sub-section.
(5) The countervailing duty chargeable under this section shall be in addition to any other duty imposed under this Act or any other law for the time being in force.
(6) The countervailing duty imposed under this section shall unless revoked earlier, cease to have effect on the expiry of five years from the date of such imposition:
Provided that if the Government, in a review, is of the opinion that the cessation of such duty is likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of subsidisation and injury, it may, from time to time, extend the period of such imposition for a further period of five years and such further period shall commence from the date of order of such extension:
Provided further that where a review initiated before the expiry of the aforesaid period of five years has not come to a conclusion before such expiry, the countervailing duty may continue to remain in force pending outcome of such a review for a further period not exceeding one year.
(7) The amount of any subsidy referred to in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall, from time to time, be ascertained and determined by the Government, after such inquiry as it may consider necessary and the Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, make rules for the identification of such goods and for the assessment and collection of any countervailing duty imposed upon the importation thereof under this section.
(8) No proceeding for imposition of countervailing duty under this section shall commence unless the Bangladesh Tariff Commission, on receipt of a written application by or on behalf of a domestic industry, informs the Government that there is prima-facie evidence of injury which is caused by direct or indirect subsidy on any particular imported goods.
Imposition of anti-dumping duty
18B. (1) Where any goods are exported from any country or territory (hereinafter in this section referred to as the exporting country or territory) to Bangladesh at less than the normal value, then, upon the importation of such goods into Bangladesh, the Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, impose an anti-dumping duty not exceeding the margin of dumping in relation to such goods.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this section,-
(a) “margin of dumping”, in relation to any goods, means the difference between its export price and its normal value;
(b) “export price”, in relation to any goods, means the price of the goods exported from the exporting country or territory and in cases where there is no export price or where the export price is unreliable because of association or a compensatory arrangement between the exporter and the importer or a third party, the export price may be constructed on the basis of the price at which the imported goods are first resold to an independent buyer, or if the goods are not resold to an independent buyer, or not resold in the condition as imported, on such reasonable basis as may be determined in accordance with the rules made under sub-section (6);
(c) “normal value”, in relation to any goods, means-
(i) the comparable price, in the ordinary course of trade, for the like goods when meant for consumption in the exporting country or territory as determined in accordance with the rules made under sub-section (6); or
(ii) when there are no sales of the like goods in the ordinary course of trade in the domestic market of the exporting country or territory, or, when because of the particular market situation or low volume of the sales in the domestic market of the exporting country or territory, such sales do not permit a proper comparison, the normal value shall be either-
(a) comparable representative price of the like goods when exported from the exporting country or territory or an appropriate third country as determined in accordance with the rules made under sub-section (6); or
(b) the cost of production of the said goods in the country of origin along with reasonable addition for administrative, selling and general costs and for profits, as determined in accordance with the rules made under sub-section (6):
Provided that in the case of import of the goods from a country other than the country of origin and where the goods have been merely transhipped through the country of export or such goods are not produced in the country of export, or there is no comparable price in the country of export, the normal value shall be determined with reference to the price in country of origin.
(2) The Government may, pending the determination of the normal value and the margin of dumping in relation to any goods, in accordance with the provisions of this section and the rules made thereunder, impose on the importation of such goods into Bangladesh an anti-dumping duty on the basis of a provisional estimate of such value and margin and if such anti-dumping duty exceeds the margin as so determined-
(a) the Government shall, having regard to such determination and as soon as may be after such determination, reduce such anti-dumping duty; and
(b) refund shall be made of so much of the anti-dumping duty which has been collected as is in excess of anti-dumping duty as so reduced.
(3) if the Government, in respect of the dumped goods under inquiry, is of the opinion that-
(i) there is a history of dumping which caused injury or that the importer was, or should have been, aware that the exporter practices dumping and that such dumping cause injury; and
(ii) the injury is caused by massive dumping of goods imported in a relatively short time which in light of the timing and the volume of imported goods dumped and other circumstances, is likely to seriously undermine the remedial effect of the anti-dumping duty liable to be levied, the Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, levy anti-dumping duty retrospectively from a date prior to the date of imposition of anti-dumping duty under sub-section (2) but not beyond ninety days from the date of notification under that sub-section and notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, such duty shall be payable at such rate and from such date as may be specified in the notification.
(4) The anti-dumping duty chargeable under this section shall be in addition to any other duty imposed under this Act or any other law for the time being in force.
(5) The anti-dumping duty imposed under this section shall, unless revoked earlier, cease to have effect on the expiry of five years from the date of such imposition:
Provided that if the Government, in a review, is of the opinion that the cessation of such duty is likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury, it may, from time to time, extend the period of such imposition for a further period of five years and such further period shall commence from the date of order of such extension:
Provided further that where a review initiated before the expiry of the aforesaid period of five years has not come to a conclusion before such expiry, the anti-dumping duty may continue to remain in force pending the outcome of such a review for a further period not exceeding one year.
(6) The margin of dumping as referred to in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall, from time to time, as ascertained and determined by the Government after such inquiry as it may consider necessary and the Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, make rules for the purposes of this section and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, such rules may provide for the manner in which goods liable for any anti-dumping duty under this section may be identified and for the manner in which the export price and the normal value of and the margin of dumping in relation to such goods may be determined and for the assessment and collection of such anti-dumping duty.
(7) No proceeding for imposition of anti-dumping duty under this section shall commence unless the Bangladesh Tariff Commission, on receipt of a written application by or on behalf of a domestic industry, informs the Government that there is prima-facie evidence of injury which is caused by dumping on any particular imported goods.
No imposition under section 18A or 18B in certain cases
18C. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 18A or section 18B-
(a) no goods shall be subjected to both countervailing duty and anti-dumping duty to compensate for the same situation of dumping or export subsidisation;
(b) The Government shall not levy any countervailing duty or anti-dumping duty-
(i) under section 18A or section 18B by reasons of exemption of such goods from duties or taxes borne by the like goods when meant for consumption in the country of origin or exportation or by reasons of refund of such duties or taxes;
(ii) under sub-section (1) of each of these sections, on the import into Bangladesh of any goods from a member country of the World Trade Organization or from a country with which the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh has a most favoured nation agreement (hereinafter referred as a specified country), unless in accordance with the rules made under sub-section (2) of this section, a determination has been made that import of such goods into Bangladesh causes or threatens to cause material injury to any established industry in Bangladesh or materially retards the establishment of any industry in Bangladesh; and
(iii) under sub-section (2) of each of these sections on import into Bangladesh of any goods from the specified countries unless in accordance with the rules made under sub-section (2) of this section, preliminary findings have been made of subsidy or dumping and consequent injury to domestic industry; and a further determination has also been made that a duty is necessary to prevent injury being caused during the investigation:
Provided that nothing contained in sub-clauses (ii) and (iii) of clause (b) shall apply if a countervailing duty or an anti-dumping duty has been imposed on any goods to prevent injury or threat of an injury to the domestic industry of a third country exporting the like goods to Bangladesh;
(c) The Government may not levy-
(i) any countervailing duty under section 18A, at any time, upon receipt of satisfactory voluntary undertaking from the Government of the exporting country or territory agreeing to eliminate or limit the subsidy or take other measures concerning its effect, or the exporter agreeing to revise the price of the goods and if the Government is satisfied that injurious effect of the subsidy is eliminated thereby;
(ii) any anti-dumping duty under section 18B, at any time upon receipt of satisfactory voluntary undertaking from any exporter to revise its prices or to cease exports to the area in question at dumped price and if the Government is satisfied that the injurious effect of dumping is eliminated by such action.
(2) The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, make rules for the purposes of this section, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, such rules may provide for the manner in which any investigation may be made for the purposes of this section, the factors to which regard shall be paid in any such investigation and for all matters connected with such investigation.
Appeal against imposition of countervailing or anti-dumping duty
18D. (1) An appeal against the order of determination or review thereof regarding the existence, degree and effect of any subsidy or dumping in relation to import of any goods shall lie to the Customs, Excise and মূল্য সংযোজন কর Appellate Tribunal constituted under section 196.
(2) Every appeal under this section shall be filed within ninety days of the date of order under appeal:
Provided that the Appellate Tribunal may entertain any appeal after the expiry of the said period of ninety days, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.
(3) The Appellate Tribunal may, after giving the parties to the appeal, an opportunity of being heard, pass such orders thereon as it thinks fit, confirming, modifying or annulling the order appealed against.
(4) Every appeal under sub-section (1) shall be heard by a special Bench constituted by the President of the Appellate Tribunal for hearing such appeals and such Bench shall consist of the President and not less than two members and shall include one technical member and one judicial member.]
Imposition of safeguard duty
[18E. (1) If the Government, after conducting such enquiry as it deems fit, is satisfied that any article is being imported into Bangladesh in such increased quantities and under such conditions that such importation may cause or threaten to cause serious injury to domestic industry, it may, by notification in the official Gazette, impose a safeguard duty on that article:
Provided that the Government, may, by notification in the official Gazette, exempt any goods from the whole or any part of safeguard duty leviable thereon, subject to such conditions, limitations or restrictions as it thinks fit to impose.
(2) The Government may, pending the determination under sub-section (1) of the injury or threat thereof, impose a provisional safeguard duty on the basis of a preliminary determination in the prescribed manner that increased imports have caused or threatened to cause serious injury to a domestic industry:
Provided that where, on final determination, the Government is of the opinion that increased imports have not caused or threatened to cause serious injury to a domestic industry, it shall refund the duty so collected:
Provided further that the provisional safeguard duty shall not remain in force for more than two hundred days from the date on which it was imposed.
(3) The duty chargeable under this section shall be in addition to any other duty imposed under this Act or under any other law for the time being in force.
(4) The duty imposed under this section shall, unless revoked earlier, cease to have effect on the expiry of four years from the date of such imposition:
Provided that if the Government is of the opinion that the domestic industry has taken measures to adjust to such injury or threat thereof and it is necessary that the safeguard duty should continue to be imposed, it may extend the period of such imposition:
Provided further that in no case the safeguard duty shall continue to be imposed beyond a period of ten years from the date on which such duty was first imposed.
(5) The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, make rules for the purposes of this section, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, such rules may provide for the manner in which articles liable for safeguard duty may be identified and for the manner in which the causes of serious injury or causes of threat of serious injury in relation to such articles may be determined and for the assessment and collection of such safeguard duty.
(6) For the purposes of this section,-
(a) “domestic industry” means the producers-
(i) as a whole of the like article or a directly competitive article in Bangladesh; or
(ii) whose collective output of the like article or a directly competitive article in Bangladesh constitutes a major share of the total production of the said article in Bangladesh;
(b) “serious injury” means an injury causing significant overall impairment in the position of a domestic industry;
(c) “threat of serious injury” means a clear and imminent danger of serious injury.]
General power to exempt from customs-duties
19. [(1)] [If the Government is satisfied, after consultation with the Board, that it is necessary in the public interest to do so, it may, subject to such conditions, limitations or restrictions, if any, as it thinks fit to impose], by notification in the official Gazette, exempt any goods imported into, or exported from, Bangladesh or into or from any specified port or station or area therein, from the whole or any part of the customs-duties chargeable thereon [:
Provided that if, in a financial year, exemption under this sub-section is given in respect of any goods, the rate of duty cannot be changed more than once in that year so as to increase that rate.]
[(2) An exemption granted under sub-section (1) shall be effective from the date mentioned in the notification issued under that sub-section.]
[Government’s power] to grant exemption from duty in exceptional circumstances
20. [If the [Government] is satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest to do so, it may, under circumstances of exceptional nature], subject to such conditions, limitations or restrictions, if any, as it thinks fit to impose, by a special order in each case recording such circumstances, exempt any goods from payment of the whole or any part of the customs-duties chargeable thereon.
Power to deliver certain goods without payment of duty and to repay duty on certain goods
21. Subject to such conditions, limitations or restrictions, as it thinks fit to impose, the Board [or any other authority authorised by the Board in writing in this behalf] may, in such general cases as may be prescribed by rules or in particular cases by special order, authorise-
(a) the delivery without payment of the customs-duties chargeable thereon of goods which are imported only temporarily with a view to subsequent exportation;
(b) the delivery without payment of the whole or any part of the customs-duties chargeable thereon of imported goods of such classes or descriptions, as it may prescribe, intended to be used in the production, manufacture, processing, repair or refitting in Bangladesh of goods of such classes or descriptions as it may prescribe; and
(c) the repayment in whole or in part of the customs-duties paid on the importation of any goods of such classes or descriptions as it may prescribe, which have been used in the production, manufacture, processing, repair or refitting in Bangladesh of goods of such classes or descriptions as it may prescribe, provided such repayment shall not be made in respect of the class or description of goods for which drawback can be claimed under section 37.
Re-importation of goods produced or manufactured in Bangladesh
22. If goods produced or manufactured in and exported from Bangladesh are subsequently imported into Bangladesh, such goods shall be liable to customs-duty and be subject to all the conditions and restrictions, if any, to which goods of the like kind and value not so produced or manufactured are liable on the importation thereof:
Provided if such goods have been imported within two years of their exportation [***] and have not undergone any processing since their exportation, the appropriate officer not below the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of Customs may admit the goods-
[(a) where at the time of exportation of such goods, drawback was allowed, on payment of the amount of such drawback;
(b) where such goods were exported from any bonded warehouse, without payment of -
(i) the duties and taxes chargable on the imported materials, if any, used in the manufacture of such goods ; or
(ii) the duties and taxes chargable on the indigenous raw materials, if any, used in the manufacture or such goods; or
(iii) the duties and taxes, if any, chargable on such indigenous goods;
on payment of customs-duty equal to the aggregate amount of all such duties and taxes calculated at the rates prevailing at the time and place of importation of goods; or]
[(c) in any other case, without payment of customs-duty.]
Goods, derelict, wreck, etc.
23. All goods, derelict, jetsam, flotsam and wreck, brought or coming into Bangladesh, shall be dealt with as if they were imported into Bangladesh.
Provisions and stores may be exported free of duty
24. Goods produced or manufactured in Bangladesh and required as provisions and stores on any conveyance proceeding to any foreign port, airport or station may be exported free of customs-duty, [ and Value Added Tax (মূল্য সংযোজন কর )] in such quantities as the appropriate officer may determine having regard to the size of the conveyance, the number of passengers and crew and the length of the voyage or journey on which the conveyance is about to depart.
[Value of goods for assessment purposes]
[25. (1) [Whenever customs-duty is leviable on any goods by reference to their value, the actual price, that is, the price actually paid or payable, or the nearest ascertainable equivalent of such price, at which such or like goods are ordinarily sold, or offered for sale, for delivery at the time and place of importation or exportation, as the case may be, in course of international trade under fully competitive conditions, where the seller and the buyer have no interest in the business of each other and the price is the sole consideration for sale or offer for sale, shall be the value.]
[Explanation.- For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression-
[(a) “the time of importation” means the date on which a bill of entry is delivered under section 79;] and
(b) “the time of exportation” means the time when the bill of export is delivered under section 131, or when export of the goods is allowed [under that section] without a bill of export or in anticipation of the presentation of a bill of export, the time when the goods is taken to the customs port or customs airport or customs station for the purpose of export;
(c) (i) “the place of importation” means the customs port or customs airport or the customs station at which the bill of entry is first submitted; and
(ii) “place of exportation” means the customs port or the station at which the bill of export is submitted.]
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1), the price referred to in that sub-section in respect of imported goods shall be determined in accordance with the rules made in this behalf.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, fix, for the purpose of levying customs duties, tariff values [or minimum values] for any goods imported or exported as chargeable with customs-duty ad valorem:
Provided that any imported or exported goods, the declared value of which is higher than its tariff value fixed under this sub-section, shall be chargeable with customs duties on the basis of its declared value.
[(4) The average rate of exchange prevailing during the thirty days preceding the last working day of the third week of the month preceding the month during which the bill of entry or the bill of export is delivered under sections 79 or 131 or electronically transmitted to the Customs computer system shall be the rate of exchange for the computation of the value of any imported or exported goods and such rate shall be fixed by the Board or by such officer as the Board may authorise in this behalf.]
(5) For the purpose of this section [* * *]-
(a) “rate of exchange” means the rate of exchange determined by the Government for the conversion of Bangladesh currency into foreign currency or foreign currency into Bangladesh currency;
(b) “foreign currency” and “Bangladesh currency” have the meaning respectively assigned to them in the
Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947 (VII of 1947).]
[(6) For the purposes of sub-section (1)-
(a) the value of any goods shall include the freight, insurance, commission and all other costs, charges and expenses incidental to the sale and delivery at the place of importation or exportation; and
(b) the Board may, by notification in the official Gazette, fix the freight for the transportation of any goods or class of goods by aircraft that are delivered or could have been delivered at a Customs airport to the buyer.]
Pre-shipment inspection agencies and assessment on the basis of their certificates
[25A. [(1) For the purposes of this Act, the Government may, by notification in the official Gazette-
(a) appoint pre-shipment inspection agencies and audit agencies, and
(b) determine the scope and manner of certification, and also the scope and manner of audit, and any matter related to such certification and audit.]
[(2) The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare that the quality, quantity, price, description and customs classification of any goods verified and certified in the prescribed manner by a pre-shipment inspection agency shall be accepted as the basis for assessment, unless otherwise prescribed.]
(3) For the purposes of this section, “price” means value of the goods determined in accordance with sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 25.]
Optional pre-shipment Inspection.
[[25B. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, it is optional for the importers to have their importable goods inspected by a pre-shipment inspection agency before or at the time of shipment of those goods on board a vessel, aircraft or other conveyance.]
Pre-shipment inspection service charge
25C. The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, impose pre-shipment inspection service charge on imported goods required to be inspected by pre-shipment inspection agencies at a rate not exceeding one per cent of the value of such goods and this charge shall be collected as if it were a customs-duty leviable under section 18(1).]
Requisition to produce documents
[26. (1) Where-
(a) an officer of Customs has reasons to believe that goods have been unlawfully imported, exported, under valued or overvalued, entered, removed, or otherwise unlawfully dealt with by any person contrary to this Act or that any person attempts to import, export, under or overvalue, enter, remove or otherwise deal with any goods; or
(b) goods have been seized under this Act, an officer of Customs not below the rank of an Assistant Commissioner may, by notice in writing, require that person or any person whom the officer suspects to be or to have been the owner, importer or exporter of those goods, or agent thereof, as the case may be, as and when required, to produce and deliver to the officer or to any other specified Customs officer all books of account, invoice books, or other books, records or documents in which any entry or memorandum appears or may be supposed to appear in respect of the purchase, importation, exportation, cost, or value of, or payment for, the goods and any other goods so imported or exported or otherwise dealt with within a period of three years preceding the date of the notice.
(2) In addition to the requirements of sub-section (1) of this section, an officer of Customs not below the rank of an Assistant Commissioner may require the owner or importer or exporter of those goods, or agent thereof, as the case may be, as and [when necessary], to-
(a) produce for the inspection of the officer or any specified Customs officer, and allow the officer to make copies of or extracts from, any of the documents, books, or records referred to in sub-section (1), [* * *]
[(aa) transmit or send, by electronic or other means, the information contained in those documents, books or records, and]
(b) answer any question concerning those documents, books, or records.
Further powers in relation to documents
26A. An officer of Customs not below the rank of Joint Commissioner may, by notice in writing, require any person (including any officer employed in or in connection with any Government department, Corporation, or local authority, or any officer employed in or in connection with any bank [ , operator as defined in section 2(19) of
বাংলাদেশ টেলিযোগাযোগ নিয়ন্ত্রণ আইন, ২০০১ or any statutory authority], as and when required to-
(a) produce for inspection by an officer of Customs any documents or records [ including any modes of communication using telecommunication or radio apparatus] that the Joint Commissioner considers necessary or relevant to an investigation or audit under this Act;
(b) allow the officer of Customs to make copies of or extracts from any such documents or records;
(c) appear before the Joint Commissioner of Customs and answer all questions put to him concerning any goods or any transactions relating to those goods that are the subject of any such investigation, or concerning the documents or records that are relevant to any such investigation.
A Customs officer may take possession of and retain documents and records
26B. (1) A Customs officer may take possession of and retain any document or record presented in connection with any entry or required to be produced under this Act.
(2) Where the Customs officer takes possession of a document or record under sub-section (1) of this section, the said officer shall, at the request of the person otherwise entitled to the document or record, provide that person with a copy of the document certified by him or on his behalf under the seal of the Customs as a true copy.
(3) Every copy so certified shall be admissible as evidence in all Courts as if it were the original.
Copying of documents obtained during search
26C. (1) Where an officer of Customs or an authorised person carries out any lawful search, inspection, audit, or examination under this Act, and has reasonable cause to believe that documents coming into his possession during such search, inspection, audit, or examination are evidence of the commission of an offence under this Act, he may remove the documents for the purpose of making copies.
(2) The documents or records so removed must, as soon as practicable after copies thereof have been made, be returned to the person otherwise entitled to them.
(3) A copy of any such document certified by or on behalf of the officer of Customs under the seal of the Customs shall be admissible in evidence in all Courts as if it were the original.
Retention of documents and goods obtained during search
26D. (1) Where an officer of Customs or an authorised person carries out any lawful search, inspection, audit, or examination under this Act, and has reasonable cause to believe that any document or goods coming into his possession during such search, inspection, audit, or examination are evidence of the commission of an offence under this Act, or are intended to be used for the purpose of committing any offence under this Act, the officer or his authorised person may take possession of and retain the documents or goods, as the case may be.
(2) Where an officer of Customs or his authorised person takes possession of a document under sub-section (1) of this section, he shall, at the request of the person otherwise entitled to the document, provide that person with a copy of the document certified by or on behalf of the Customs officer under the seal of the Customs as a true copy.
(3) Every copy so certified shall be admissible in evidence in Courts as if it were the original.]
Abatement of duty on damaged, deteriorated, lost, or destroyed goods
[27. [(1)] Where, at the time of first examination, of any imported goods, it is shown by the owner in writing to the satisfaction of an officer not below the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of Customs-
(a) that the goods had been damaged or had deteriorated at any time before or during their landing; or
(b) that the goods [* * *] had been damaged, at any time after landing but before such examination, by accident and not due to any wilful act, negligence or default of the importer or his agents;
the value of such goods shall, on a written application made by the owner of the goods, be appraised by an appropriate officer of Customs, and the owner shall be allowed abatement of duty in proportion to the diminution in value of the goods as so appraised.
(2) Where it is shown, in writing by the owner of any imported goods to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Customs that the goods have been [damaged, deteriorated, lost or destroyed] by an accident or force majeure, after importation but before clearance thereof for home consumption, the Commissioner of Customs may, on an application made by the owner, furnishing all particulars necessary to establish the fact of such [damage, deterioration, loss or destruction], remit or repay any duty chargeable or paid on such goods.
Explanation.- For the purpose of this sub-section, “force majeure” means an act of God.]
[(3) Where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Customs that any warehoused goods had been damaged at any time before clearance for home-consumption by an accident or force majeure, the Commissioner of Customs may, on an application from the owner of the goods furnishing all particulars necessary to establish the fact of such damage, allow the value of such goods to be appraised by an appropriate officer of Customs and the owner of the goods shall be allowed abatement of duty in proportion to the diminution in value of the goods as so appraised.]
Power to test and denature imported spirit
28. When by any law for the time being in force a duty lower than that prescribed by [this Act], is imposed on denatured spirit, any such spirit imported into Bangladesh may, subject to rules, be tested and if necessary adequately denatured by officers of customs, at the expense of the person importing the same, before the customs-duty is charged thereon.
Restriction on amendment of bill of entry or bill of export
29. Except as provided in section 88, no amendment of a bill of entry or bill of export relating to goods assessed for duty on the declared value, quantity or description thereof shall be allowed after such goods have been removed from the customs-area.
[Date for determination of rate of duty, value and exchange rate for imported goods]
[30. The rate of duty [value and exchange rate applicable to any imported goods, shall be the rate of duty, value and exchange rate] in force,-
(a) in the case of goods cleared for home consumption under section 79, on the date a bill of entry is presented under that section and a bill of entry number is allocated thereto;
(b) in the case of goods cleared from a warehouse for home consumption under section 104, on the date [a bill of entry was presented under section 79 and the bill of entry number was allocated thereto]; and
(c) in the case of any other goods, on the date of payment of duty: Provided that if a bill of entry is presented in anticipation of arrival of a conveyance by which the goods are imported, the relevant date for the purpose of this section shall be the date on which the manifest of the conveyance is delivered after its arrival.]
Value and effective rate of duty
[30A. Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force or any decision of any Court, for the purposes of section 30, the value and the rate of duty applicable to any goods shall respectively include the value as determined under section 25 and any amount of duty imposed under section 18, 18A or 18B and the amount of duty that may have become payable in consequence of the withdrawal of the whole or any part of the exemption or concession from duty whether before or after the conclusion of a contract or agreement for the sale of such goods or opening of a letter of credit in respect thereof.]
Date for determination of export duty
[31. The rate of duty applicable to, and the rate of exchange for computation of the value of, any goods exported shall be the rate of duty or, as the case may be, the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of the delivery of the bill of export under section 131:
Provided that where the export of any goods is permitted without a bill of export or in anticipation of the delivery of such a bill, the rate of duty applicable to, and the rate of exchange for the computation of the value of, such goods shall be the rate of duty or, as the case may be, the rate of exchange applicable on the date on which loading of the goods on the outgoing conveyance commences.]
Untrue statement, error, etc.
32. (1) If any person, in connection with any matter of customs,-
(a) makes or signs or causes to be made or signed, or delivers or causes to be delivered to an officer of Customs any declaration, notice, certificate or other document whatsoever, or
(b) makes any statement in answer to any question put to him by an officer of Customs which he is required by or under this Act to answer, [or]
[(c) transmits any statement, document, information or record through electronic device or produces soft copy thereof,]
and such document or statement is untrue in any material particular, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section.
(2) Where, by reason of any such document or statement as aforesaid or by reason of some collusion, any duty or charge has not been levied or has been short-levied or has been erroneously refunded, the person liable to pay any amount on that account shall be served with a notice [***] requiring him to show cause why he should not pay the amount specified in the notice.
(3) Where, by reason of any inadvertence, error or misconstruction, any duty or charge [amounting to not less than one thousand Taka] has not been levied or has been short-levied or has been erroneously refunded, the person liable to pay any amount on that account shall be served with a notice within [five years] of the relevant date requiring him to show cause why he should not pay the amount specified in the notice.
(4) The appropriate officer, after considering the representation, if any, of such person as is referred to in sub-section (2) of sub-section (3) shall determine the amount of duty payable by him which shall in no case exceed the amount specified in the notice, and such person shall pay the amount so determined [:
Provided that where the amount so determined is less than one thousand Taka, the person concerned shall not be required to make the payment.]
(5) For the purposes of this section, the expression “relevant date” means-
(a) in any case where duty is not levied, the date on which an order for the clearance of goods is made;
(b) in a case where duty is provisionally assessed under section 81, the date of adjustment of duty after its final assessment;
(c) in a case where duty has been erroneously refunded, the date of its refund;
(d) in any other case, the date of payment of duty or charge.
Refund to be claimed within [six months]
33. (1) No refund of any customs-duties or charges claimed to have been paid or over-paid through inadvertence, [error, misconstruction or in any other way] shall be allowed, unless such claim is made within [six months] of the date of payment [:
Provided that where the amount so claimed is less than one thousand Taka, refund shall not be allowed.]
(2) In the case of provisional payments made under section 8l, the said period of [six months] shall be reckoned from the date of the adjustment of duty after its final assessment.
Power to give credit for, and keep account current of, duties and charges
34. An officer of Customs, not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Customs may, in the case of any mercantile firm or public body, if he so thinks fit, instead of requiring payment of customs-duties or charges as and when they become due, keep with such firm or body an account-current of such duties and charges, which account shall be settled at intervals of not exceeding one month, and such firm or body shall make a deposit or furnish a security sufficient in the opinion of that officer to cover the amount which may at any time be payable by it in respect of such duties or charges.
Drawback of the export on imported goods
35. Subject to the subsequent provisions of this Chapter and the rules, when any goods, capable of being easily identified, which have been imported into Bangladesh and upon which customs-duties have been paid on importation, are exported to any place outside Bangladesh or as provisions or stores for use on board a conveyance proceeding to a foreign territory, [such duties, not exceeding seven-eighths thereof,] shall be repaid as drawback, subject to the following conditions, namely:-
(1) the goods are identified to the satisfaction of an officer of Customs not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Customs at the customs-station, to be the same as had been imported, and
(2) the goods are entered for export within two years of the date of their importation, as shown by the records of the custom-house or if such time is extended by the Board or the Commissioner of Customs for sufficient cause within such extended time:
Provided that the Commissioner of Customs shall not extend the time beyond three years of the importation of such goods.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this section, the goods shall be deemed to have been entered for export on the date on which the bill of export is delivered to the appropriate officer under section 131.
Drawback on goods taken into use between importation and exportation
36. Notwithstanding anything contained in section 35, the repayment of duty as drawback in respect of goods which have been taken into use between their importation and subsequent exportation shall be made in accordance with the provisions of the rules made in that behalf.
Drawback on goods used in the manufacture of goods which are exported
37. Where it appears to the Board that in respect of goods of any class or description manufactured in Bangladesh and exported to any place outside Bangladesh, a drawback of customs-duties should be allowed on any imported goods of a class or description used in the manufacture of such exported goods, the Board may, by notification in the official Gazette, direct that drawback shall be allowed in respect of such imported goods to such extent and subject to such condition as may be provided in the rules.
Power to declare what goods are identifiable and to prohibit drawback in case of specified foreign territory
38. (1) The Board may, from time to time, by notification in the official Gazette, declare what goods shall, for the purposes of this Chapter, be deemed to be not capable of being easily identified.
(2) The Government may, from time to time, by notification in the official Gazette, prohibit the payment of drawback upon the exportation of goods or any specified goods or class of goods to any specified foreign port or territory.
When no drawback allowed
39. Notwithstanding anything hereinbefore contained, no drawback shall be allowed-
(a) upon goods which are required to be included in the export manifest and are not so included, or
(b) when the claim is for drawback amounting, in respect of any single shipment, to less than hundred Taka, or
(c) unless the claim for drawback has been made and established at the time of export [or within six months from the date of export].
Time of payment of drawback
40. No such payment of drawback shall be made until the vessel carrying the goods has put out to sea or other conveyance has left Bangladesh.
Declaration by parties claiming drawback
41. Every person, or his duly authorised agent, claiming drawback on any goods duly exported shall make and subscribe a declaration that such goods have been actually exported and have not been re-landed and are not intended to be re-landed at any place in Bangladesh and that such person was at the time of entry outwards and export and continues to be entitled to drawback thereon.
Chapter VII
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF CONVEYANCE
Arrival of conveyance
42. (1) The person-in-charge of a conveyance entering Bangladesh from any place outside Bangladesh shall not cause or permit the conveyance to call or to land in the first instance at any place other than a customs-station.
(2) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall not apply in relation to any conveyance which is compelled by accident, stress of weather or other unavoidable cause to call or land at a place other than a customs-station but the person-in-charge of any such conveyance-
(a) shall immediately report its arrival to the nearest officer of Customs or the Officer-in-Charge of the police-station and shall on demand produce before him either the cargo book or the manifest or the log-book belonging to such conveyance;
(b) shall not, without the consent of any such officer, permit any goods carried in the conveyance to be unloaded from, or any of the crew or passenger to depart from its vicinity;
(c) shall comply with any direction given by such officer with respect to any such goods; and no passenger or member of the crew shall, without the consent of any such officer, leave the vicinity of the conveyance:
Provided that nothing in this section shall prohibit the departure of any passenger or member of the crew from the vicinity of, or the removal of goods from, the conveyance where such departure or removal is necessary for reasons of health, safety or the preservation of life or property.
Delivery of import manifest in respect of a vessel
43. (1) The Board may, by notification in the official Gazette, fix a place in any river or port beyond which no vessel arriving shall pass until an import manifest has been delivered to the pilot, [officer of Customs, or other person duly authorised to receive the same, or as the case may be, until the manifest has been transmitted to the Customs computer system by a registered user.]
(2) If in any river or port wherein a place has been fixed by the Board under this section, the master of any vessel arriving remains outside or below the place so fixed, such master shall, nevertheless, within twenty-four hours after the vessel anchors, deliver an import manifest to the pilot, officer of Customs or other person duly authorised to receive the same.
(3) If any vessel arrives at any customs-port in which a place has not been so fixed, the master of such vessel shall, within twenty-four hours after such vessel has anchored within the limits of the port, deliver an import manifest to the pilot, officer of Customs or other person authorised to receive the same [:
Provided that if an officer not below the rank of [Revenue Officer] is satisfied that the master of the vessel was prevented by circumstances beyond his control from delivering the import manifest within twenty-four hours after the vessel anchored outside or below the place fixed by the Board under sub-section (1), allow it to be delivered within a further period of twenty-four hours or immediately after the first lighter vessel takes berth, whichever is earlier.]
(4) Notwithstanding anything hereinbefore contained, the appropriate officer may allow an import manifest to be delivered in anticipation of the arrival of a vessel.
[(5) The Board may, by notification in the official gazette, specify the procedures for submitting a complete electronic import manifest by the master of the vessel or his authorized agent prior to the departure of the vessel from the last port of call.]
Delivery of import manifest in respect of a conveyance other than a vessel
44. The person-in-charge of a conveyance other than a vessel shall, within twenty-four hours after arrival thereof at a land customs-airport or customs-stations, as the case may be, deliver an import manifest to the appropriate officer [or if the person-in-charge is a registered user, he may transmit the manifest to the Customs computer system][:]
[Provided that the Board may, by notification in the official gazette, specify the procedures for submitting complete electronic cargo, advance passenger manifest and crew information by the person-in-charge of an aircraft or his authorized agent prior to the departure of the aircraft from the last port of call.]
Signature and contents of import manifest and amendment thereof
45. (1) Every manifest delivered under section 43 or section 44 shall be signed by the person-in-charge of the conveyance or his duly authorised agent and shall specify all goods imported in such conveyance showing separately all goods, if any, intended to be landed, transhipped, transited or taken on to another customs-station or to a destination outside Bangladesh and stores intended for consumption at the customs-station or in the outward voyage or journey, and shall be made out in such form and contain such further particulars as the Board may from time to time direct [:
[Provided that the manifest transmitted to the Customs computer system by a registered user shall be deemed to have been signed by him.]]
(2) The appropriate officer shall permit the person-in-charge of a conveyance or his duly authorised agent to correct any obvious error in the import manifest or to supply any omission which in the opinion of such officer results from accident or inadvertence, by furnishing an amended or supplementary import manifest and shall levy thereon such fees as the Board from time to time directs.
[(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), the Board may specify, by special Order, the manner, conditions, limitations or restrictions under which the appropriate officer shall permit, the person-in-charge of a conveyance, or his duly authorised agent, to submit an amended or supplementary import manifest in special circumstances and shall levy thereon such fees as the Board may direct.]
Duty of person receiving import manifest
46. The person receiving an import manifest under section 43 or section 44 shall countersign the same and enter thereon such particulars as the Commissioner of Customs from time to time directs [, and where the import manifest is transmitted electronically to the Customs computer system by a registered user, the import manifest shall be deemed to have been countersigned by the person authorised to receive such transmission and that person shall comply with the direction of that Commissioner, if any, in this regard].
Bulk not to be broken until manifest, etc., delivered and vessel entered inwards
47. No vessel arriving in any customs-port shall be allowed to break bulk, until an import manifest has been delivered as hereinbefore provided or until a copy of such manifest, together with an application for entry of such vessel inwards, has been presented by the master to the appropriate officer and an order has been given thereon for such entry.
Power to require production of documents and ask questions
48. (1) When an import manifest is presented, the person-in-charge of a conveyance or his duly authorised agent, if required so to do by the appropriate officer, shall deliver to the officer the bill of lading or the bill of freight or a copy thereof for every part of cargo or goods laden on board, journey log-book and any port clearance, docket or other paper granted in respect of such conveyance at the place from which it is stated to have come, and shall answer all such questions relating to the conveyance, goods, crew [, passengers] and voyage or journey as are put to him by such officer.
(2) The appropriate officer may, if any requisition or question made or put by him under this section is not complied with or answered, refuse to grant permission to a vessel to break bulk and to other conveyance to land the imported goods, as the case may be.
Special pass for breaking bulk
49. Notwithstanding anything contained in section 47 and subject to rules, the appropriate officer may grant, prior to receipt of the import manifest and the entry inwards of a vessel, a special pass permitting bulk to be broken.
Order for entry outwards or loading of goods to be obtained before export goods are loaded
50. (1) No goods other than passengers' baggage and mail bags shall be loaded on a conveyance until-
(a) in the case of a vessel, a written application for entry of such vessel outwards, subscribed by the master of such vessel, has been made to the appropriate officer and an order has been given thereon for such entry; and
(b) in the case of any other conveyance, a written application for authority to load the goods subscribed by the person-in-charge of the conveyance has been made to the appropriate officer and an order has been given thereon authorising the loading.
(2) Every application made under this section shall specify the particulars as prescribed by the Board.
No vessel to depart without port-clearance
51. (1) No vessel, whether laden or in ballast, shall depart from any customs-port until a port-clearance has been granted by the appropriate officer.
(2) No pilot shall take charge of any vessel proceeding to sea, unless the master of such vessel produces a port-clearance.
No conveyance other than vessel to leave without permission
52. No conveyance other than a vessel shall depart from a land customs-station or customs-airport until a written permission to that effect has been granted by the appropriate officer.
Application for port-clearance of vessels
53. (1) Every application for port-clearance shall be made by the master of a vessel at least twenty-four hours before the intended departure of the vessel:
Provided that the [Commissioner of Customs] or an officer authorised by him in this behalf may for special reasons to be recorded allow a shorter period for the delivery of the said application. [:
[Provided further that when the master is a registered user, he may make the application under this sub-section by transmitting it to the Customs computer system, and an application so transmitted shall be deemed to have been duly signed by him.]].
(2) The master shall, at the time of applying for port-clearance,-
(a) deliver to the appropriate officer an export manifest in duplicate in such form as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board signed by such master specifying all goods to be exported in the vessel and showing separately all goods and stores entered in the import manifest, and not landed or consumed on board or transhipped;
(b) deliver to the appropriate officer such bills of export or other documents as such officer acting under the general instructions of the Commissioner of Customs requires; and
(c) answer such questions respecting the departure and destination of the vessel as are put to him by the appropriate officer [:
Provided that if the master is a registered user, he may transmit to the Customs computer system the export manifest and other documents specified at clauses (b) and (c) and the documents so transmitted shall be deemed to have been signed by him for the purposes of this section.]
(3) The provisions of section 45, relating to the amendment of import manifests shall, mutatis mutandis, apply also to export manifest delivered under this section or under section 54.
Conveyances other than vessels to deliver documents and answer questions before departure
54. The person-in-charge of a conveyance other than a vessel or his duly authorised agent shall-
(a) deliver to the appropriate officer an export manifest in duplicate in such form as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board signed by the person-in-charge or the agent specifying all goods or stores entered in the import manifest, and not landed or transhipped or consumed on board the conveyance;
(b) deliver to the appropriate officer such bills of export or other documents as such officer acting under the general instructions of the Commissioner of Customs requires; and
(c) answer such questions respecting the departure and destination of the conveyance as are put to him by the appropriate officer.
Power to refuse port-clearance to vessels or permission for departure to other conveyance
55. (1) The appropriate officer may refuse to give port-clearance to a vessel or permission for departure to any other conveyance until-
(a) the provisions of section 53 or section 54, as the case may be, have been complied with;
(b) all station or port dues and other charges and penalties payable in respect of such vessel or by the owner or master thereof, or in respect of such other conveyance by the owner or person-in-charge thereof, and all taxes, duties and other dues payable in respect of any goods loaded therein, have been duly paid, or their payment secured by such guarantee, or by such deposit at such rate, as such officer directs;
(c) where export goods have been loaded without payment or securing payment as aforesaid of all taxes, duties and other dues payable in respect thereof or in contravention of any provision of this Act or the rules or of any other law for the time being in force relating to export of goods-
(i) such goods have been unloaded, or
(ii) where the appropriate officer is satisfied that it is not practicable to unload such goods, the person-in-charge or his duly authorised agent has given an undertaking, secured by such guarantee or deposit of such amount as the appropriate officer may direct, for bringing back the goods to Bangladesh;
(d) the agent, if any, delivers to the appropriate officer a declaration in writing to the effect that he will be liable for any penalty imposed under clause 24 of the Table under sub-section (1) of the section 156 and furnishes security for the discharge of the same;
(e) the agent, if any, delivers to the appropriate officer a declaration in writing to the effect that such agent is answerable for the discharge of all claims for damage or short delivery which may be established by the owner of any goods comprised in the import cargo in respect of such goods.
(2) An agent delivering a declaration under clause (d) of sub-section (1) shall be liable to all penalties which might be imposed on the person-in-charge of such conveyance under clause 24 of the Table under sub-section (1) of section 156 and an agent delivering a declaration under clause (e) of sub-section (1) shall be bound to discharge all claims referred to in such declaration.
Grant of port-clearance or permission for departure
56. When the appropriate officer is satisfied that the provisions of this Chapter relating to the departure of conveyances have been duly complied with, he shall grant a port-clearance to the master of the vessel or a written permission for departure to the person-in-charge of any other conveyance and shall return at the same time to such master or person-in-charge one copy of the manifest duly countersigned by the appropriate officer.
Grant of port-clearance or permission for departure on security of agent
57. Notwithstanding anything contained in section 55 or section 56 and subject to rules, the appropriate officer may grant a port-clearance in respect of a vessel or permission for departure in respect of any other conveyance, if the agent furnishes such security as such officer deems sufficient for duly delivering within ten days from the date of such grant, the export manifest and other documents specified in section 53 or section 54, as the case may be.
Power to cancel port-clearance or permission for departure
58. (1) For the purpose of securing compliance with any provision of this Act or the rules or any other law, the appropriate officer may at any time, while the vessel is within the limits of any port or any other conveyance is within the limits of any station or airport or within Bangladesh territory, demand the return of port-clearance or the written permission for departure, as the case may be.
(2) Any such demand may be made in writing or may be communicated to the person-in-charge of the conveyance by wireless, and if made in writing it may be served-
(a) by delivering to the person-in-charge or his agent personally; or
(b) by leaving it at the last known place of abode of such person or agent; or
(c) by leaving it on board the conveyance with the person appearing to be in charge or command thereof.
(3) Where a demand for the return of a port-clearance or of a permission for departure is made as aforesaid, the port-clearance or permission shall forthwith become void.
Advance Passenger Information (API) or Passenger Name Record (PNR)
[58A. The Board may, in a manner prescribed by rules, require the owner or agent of an aircraft or vessel conveying passengers to provide Advance Passenger Information (API) or Passenger Name Record (PNR) prior to the arrival and departure of such aircraft or vessel]
Exemption of certain classes of conveyance from certain provisions of this Chapter
59. (1) The provisions of sections 44, 52 and 54 shall not apply to a conveyance other than a vessel which carries no goods other than the baggage of its occupants.
(2) The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, exempt conveyances belonging to Government or any foreign Government from all or any of the provisions of this Chapter.
Chapter VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS AFFECTING CONVEYANCES AT CUSTOMS-STATIONS
Power to depute officers of Customs to board conveyances
60. At any time while a conveyance is in a customs-station or is proceeding towards such station, the appropriate officer may depute one or more officers of Customs to board the conveyance, and every officer so deputed shall remain on board such conveyance for such time as the appropriate officer may consider necessary.
Officer to be received and accommodation to be provided
61. Whenever an officer of Customs is so deputed to be on board any conveyance, the person-in-charge shall be bound to receive him on board and to provide him with suitable accommodation and adequate quantity of fresh water.
Officers’ powers of access, etc.
62. (1) Every officer deputed as aforesaid shall have free access to every part of the conveyance and may-
(a) cause any goods to be marked before they are unloaded from that conveyance;
(b) lock up, seal, mark or otherwise secure any goods carried in the conveyance or any place or container in which they are carried; or
(c) fasten down any hatchway or entrance to the hold.
(2) If any box, place or closed receptacle in any such conveyance be locked, and the key be withheld, such officer shall export the same to the appropriate officer, who may thereupon issue to the officer on board the conveyance or to any other officer under his authority, a written order for search.
(3) On production of such order, the officer empowered thereunder may require that any such box, place or closed receptacle be opened in his presence; and if it be not opened upon his requisition, he may break open the same.
Sealing of conveyance
63. Conveyances carrying transit goods for destinations outside Bangladesh or goods from some foreign territory to a customs-station or from a customs-station to some foreign territory may be sealed in such cases and in such manner as may be provided in the rules.
Goods not to be loaded or unloaded or water-borne except in presence of officer
64. Save where general permission is given under section 67 or with permission in writing of the appropriate officer, no goods other than passengers' baggage or ballast urgently required to be loaded for the vessel's safety, shall be shipped or water-borne to be shipped or discharged from any vessel, in any customs-port, nor any goods except passengers' baggage shall be loaded in or unloaded from any conveyance other than a vessel at any land customs-station or customs-airport except in the presence of an officer of Customs.
Goods not to be loaded or unloaded or passed on certain days or at certain times
65. Except with the permission in writing of the appropriate officer and on payment of such fees as may be prescribed by the Board no goods, other than passenger baggage or mail bags, shall in any customs-port be discharged, or be shipped or water-borne to be shipped or shall be loaded or unloaded or passed at any land customs-station or customs-airport-
(a) on any public holiday within the meaning of section 25 of the
Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (XXVI of 1881) or on any day on which the discharge or shipping of cargo at customs-port or loading, unloading, passage or delivery of cargo at any land customs-station or customs-airport, as the case may be, is prohibited by the Board by notification in the official Gazette; or
(b) on any day except between such hours as the Board may, from time to time, by a like notification, appoint.
Goods not to be loaded or unloaded except at approved places
66. Save where general permission is given under section 67 or with permission in writing of the appropriate officer, no imported goods shall be unloaded or goods for export loaded at any place other than a place duly approved under clause (b) of section 10 for the unloading or loading of such goods.
Power to exempt from sections 64 and 66
67. Notwithstanding anything contained in section 64 or section 66, the Board may, by notification in the official Gazette, give general permission for goods to be loaded at any customs-station from any place not duly appointed for loading and without the presence or authority of an officer of Customs.
Boat-note
68. (1) When any goods are water-borne for the purpose of being landed from any vessel and warehoused or cleared for home-consumption, or of being shipped for exportation on board any vessel, there shall be sent, with each boat-load or other separate despatch, a boat-note specifying the number of packages so sent and the marks or number or other description thereof.
(2) Each boat-note for goods to be landed shall be signed by an officer of the vessel, and likewise by the officer of Customs on board, if any such officer be on board, and shall be delivered on arrival to any officer of Customs authorised to receive the same.
(3) Each boat-note for goods to be shipped shall be signed by the appropriate officer and, if an officer of Customs is on board the vessel on which such goods are to be shipped, shall be delivered to such officer, and if no such officer be on board, shall be delivered to the master of the vessel or to an officer of the vessel appointed by him to receive it.
(4) The officer of Customs who receives any boat-note of goods landed, and the officer of Customs, master or other officer as the case may be, who receives any boat-note of goods shipped, shall sign the same and note thereon such particulars as the Commissioner of Customs may from time to time direct.
(5) The Board may from time to time, by notification in the official Gazette, suspend the operation of this section in any customs-port or part thereof.
Goods water-borne to be forthwith landed or shipped
69. All goods water-borne for the purpose of being landed or shipped shall be landed or shipped without any unnecessary delay.
Goods not to be transhipped without permission
70. Except in cases of imminent danger, no goods discharged into or loaded in any boat for the purpose of being landed or shipped shall be transhipped into any other boat without the permission of an officer of Customs.
Power to prohibit plying of unlicensed cargo-boats
71. (1) The Board may declare with regard to any customs-port, by notification in the official Gazette, that, after a date therein specified, no boat not duly licensed and registered shall be allowed to ply as a cargo-boat for the landing and shipping of merchandise within the limits of such port.
(2) In any port with regard to which such notification has been issued, the Commissioner of Customs or other officer whom the Board appoints in this behalf, may, subject to rules and on payment of such fees as the Board may, by notification in the official Gazette, prescribe, issue licences for and register cargo-boats, or cancel the same.
Playing of ships of less than one hundred tons
72. (1) Every boat belonging to a [Bangladeshi] ship and every other vessel not exceeding one hundred tons, shall be marked in such manner as may be prescribed by rules.
(2) Plying of all or any class or description of vessels of less than one hundred tons, whether in sea or inland waters, may be prohibited or regulated or restricted as to the purposes and limits of plying by rules.
Chapter IX
DISCHARGE OF CARGO AND ENTRY INWARDS OF GOODS
Discharge of cargo by vessels may commence on receipt of due permission
73. When an order for entry inwards of any vessel which has arrived in any customs-port or a special pass permitting such vessel to break bulk has been given, discharge of the cargo of such vessel may be proceeded with.
Discharge of goods by conveyances other than vessels
74. When on arrival of a conveyance other than a vessel at a land customs-station or customs-airport the person-in-charge of such conveyance has delivered the import manifest under section 44 and the documents required under section 48, he shall forthwith take the conveyance or cause it to be taken to the examination station at the land customs-station or customs-airport and remove or cause to be removed all goods carried in such conveyance to the custom-house in the presence of the appropriate officer or some person duly authorised by him in that behalf.
Imported goods not to be unloaded unless entered in the import manifest
75. (1) No imported goods required to be shown in the import manifest shall, except with the permission of the appropriate officer, be unloaded from any conveyance at any customs-station unless they are specified in the import manifest or amended or supplementary import manifest for being unloaded at that customs-station.
(2) Nothing in this section shall apply to the unloading of the baggage accompanying a passenger or a member or a crew or mail bags.
Procedure in respect of goods not unloaded by vessels within time allowed
76. (1) (a) If any goods imported by a vessel (except such as have been shown in the import manifest as not to be unloaded) are not unloaded within such period as is specified in the bill of lading or if no period is so specified, within such number of the working days, not exceeding fifteen, after entry of the vessel as the Board may from time to time by notification in the official Gazette appoint, or
(b) If the cargo of any vessel, excepting a small quantity of goods, has been discharged before the expiration of the period so specified or appointed, the master of such vessel or, on this application, the appropriate officer may then carry such goods to the custom-house, there to remain for entry.
[(2) The appropriate officer shall thereupon take charge of, and grant receipt for, such goods; and if notice in writing has been given by the master or the agent of the vessel to the
appropriate officer that goods are to remain subject to a lien for freight, primage, general average, demurrage, container detention charges, dead-freight, terminal handling charges, container service charge or other charges of a stated amount, the appropriate officer shall hold such goods until he receives notice in writing that the said charges have been paid.]
Power to land small parcels and hold unclaimed parcels
77. (1) At any time after the arrival of any vessel, the appropriate officer may, with the consent of the master of such vessel, cause any small package or parcel of goods to be carried to the custom-house there to remain for entry in charge of the officers of customs, during the remainder of the working days allowed under this Act for the landing of such package or parcel.
(2) In any package or parcel so carried to the custom-house remains unclaimed on the expiration of the number of working days so allowed for its unloading, or at the time of the clearance outwards of the vessel from which it was unloaded, the master of such vessel may give such notice as is provided in section 76, and the officer-in-charge of the custom-house shall thereupon hold such package or parcel as provided in that section.
Power to permit immediate discharge
78. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in sections 74, 76 and 77, the appropriate officer in any customs-station to which the Board, by notification in the official Gazette, declares this section to apply, may permit the master of any vessel immediately on receipt of an order under section 47 or a special pass under section 49, or the person-in-charge of a conveyance other than a vessel on receipt of the import manifest to discharge the goods imported by such conveyance, or any portion thereof, into the custody of his agent, if he be willing to receive the same, for the purpose of unloading the same forthwith-
(a) at the custom-house, or at any specified landing-place or wharf; or
(b) at any landing-place or wharf belonging to the port commissioners, port trust, railways or other public body or company; or
(c) for giving it in the custody of such person as may be approved by the Commissioner of Customs.
(2) Any agent so receiving such cargo or portion shall be bound to discharge all claims for damage or short delivery which may be established in respect of the same by the owner thereof, and shall be entitled to recover from such owner his charges for service rendered, but not for commission or the like, where any agent for the unloading of such cargo or portion has been previously appointed by the owner and such appointment is un-revoked [:
Provided that no agent so receiving such cargo or portion shall cause it to be removed or otherwise dealt with except in accordance with the written order of the appropriate officer.]
(3) The appropriate officer shall take charge of all goods discharged under clause (a) of sub-section (1) and otherwise proceed in relation thereto as provided in sections 76 and 82.
(4) [A public body or company or port authority or airlines or] person at whose landing-place or wharf or place of storage any goods are discharged under clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (1) shall not permit the same to be removed or otherwise dealt with except in accordance with the order in writing of the appropriate officer.
Entry for home-consumption or warehousing
79. (1) The owner of any imported goods shall make entry of such goods for home-consumption or warehousing or for any other approved purpose by delivering to the appropriate officer a bill of entry thereof in such form and manner and containing such particulars as the Board may direct:
Provided that, if the owner makes and subscribes a declaration before the appropriate officer to the effect that he is unable, for want of [such information as is essential for submitting a bill of entry], then the said officer shall permit him, previous to the entry thereof, to examine the goods in the presence of an officer of Customs or to deposit such goods in a public warehouse appointed under section 12 without warehousing the same, pending the production of such information.
[(1A) The Commissioner of Customs may within the period specified in sub-section (2) require the owner who has delivered or transmitted a bill of entry in electronic form to submit to the appropriate officer a paper bill of entry duly signed by the owner or his authorised agent, containing such information and documents as the said Commissioner may specify.]
[(1B) A bill of entry under sub-section (1) shall be delivered within five working days since the arrival of goods:
Provided that the Board may, by notification in the official Gazette, extend such time upon stipulating such conditions or limitations as it deems fit and proper.]
[(2) A bill of entry under sub-section (1) may be presented and the goods be cleared at any time within [thirty] days of the date of unloading thereof at a customs-port or a land customs-station or customs-inland container depot or [within twenty one days of] the date of unloading thereof at a customs-airport or within such extended period as the Commissioner of Customs may deem fit:
[Provided that the Commissioner of Customs may permit a bill of entry to be presented even before the delivery of the manifest if the vessel or the aircraft by which the goods have been shipped for importation into Bangladesh is expected to arrive within thirty days from the date of such presentation.]]
(3) If the Commissioner of Customs is satisfied that the rate of customs-duty is not adversely affected and that there was no intention to defraud, he may in exceptional circumstances and for reasons to be recorded in writing permit substitution of a bill of entry for home-consumption for a bill of entry for warehousing or vice versa.
Acceptance of electronically transmitted bills of entry and documents
[79A. The Board may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare that electronically transmitted bills of entry and related documents may be acceptable subject to such conditions as are specified in that notification.]
Access to Customs computerised entry processing systems
[79B. No person shall transmit to, or receive information from, a [Customs computer] system unless that person is registered by the Commissioner of Customs as a user of that [Customs computer].
Registered users
79C. (1) A person who wishes to be registered as a user of a [Customs computer] system may apply in writing to the Commissioner of Customs in the prescribed form and shall provide such information in relation to the application as required by the Commissioner.
(2) The said Commissioner may require an applicant for registration to give such additional information as the said Commissioner considers necessary for the purpose of the application.
(3) The said Commissioner may-
(a) grant the application subject to such conditions and limitations as the said Commissioner thinks fit; or
(b) refuse the application.
(4) The said Commissioner shall give notice in writing to the applicant of his decision.
Registered users to be allocated unique user identifier
79D. (1) A person who is registered as a user of a [Customs computer] system shall be allocated a unique user identifier for use in relation to that [Customs computer] system by the Commissioner of Customs, in such form or of such a nature as the Commissioner of Customs may determine.
(2) The unique user identifier allocated pursuant to sub-section (1) of this section shall be used by the registered user for the purpose of transmitting information to or receiving information from that [Customs computer] system.
(3) The Commissioner of Customs may, by notice in writing, impose conditions and limitations on a particular registered user, or on registered users generally, relating to the use and security of unique user identifiers.
Use of unique user identifier
79E. (1) Where information is transmitted to a [Customs computer] system using a unique user identifier issued to a registered user by the Commissioner of Customs for that purpose, the transmission of that information shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be sufficient evidence that the registered user to whom the unique user identifier has been issued has transmitted that information.
(2) Where a unique user identifier is used by an individual who is not entitled to use it, sub-section (1) of this section does not apply if the registered user to whom the unique user identifier was issued has, prior to the unauthorised use of the unique user identifier, notified the Commissioner of Customs in writing that the unique user identifier is no longer secure.
Cancellation of registration of registered user
79F. (1) Where at any time the Commissioner of Customs having jurisdiction is satisfied that a person who is a registered user of a [Customs computer] system has-
(a) failed to comply with a condition of registration imposed by the said Commissioner under section 79C (3) of this Act; or
(b) failed to comply with, or acted in contravention of, any conditions imposed by the said Commissioner under section 79D(3) of this Act in relation to the use and security of the registered user's unique user identifier; or
(c) has been convicted of an offence under this Act in relation to improper access to or interference with a [Customs computer] system,-
the said Commissioner may cancel the registration of that individual as a registered user by giving notice in writing to that person setting out the reasons for the cancellation.
Customs to keep records of transmission
79G. (1) The Customs must keep a record of every transmission sent to or received from a registered user using a [Customs computer] system.
(2) The record described in sub-section (1) of this section must be kept for a period of five years from the date of the sending of or the receipt of the transmission, or for such other period as may be prescribed.]
Assessment of duty
80. (1) On the delivery [or electronic transmission] of such bill, the goods or such part thereof as may be necessary may, without undue delay, be examined or tested [in the presence of the owner or his agent, unless due to any exceptional circumstance such presence cannot be allowed] and thereafter the goods shall be assessed to duty, if any, and the owner of such goods may then proceed to clear the same for home-consumption or warehouse them, subject to the provisions hereinafter contained.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), imported goods prior to examination or testing thereof may be permitted by the appropriate officer to be assessed to duty on the basis of the statements made in the bill relating thereto and the information furnished under the rules and the documents produced under section 26; but if it is found subsequently on examination or testing of the goods or otherwise that any statement in such bill or document or any information so furnished is not correct in respect of any matter relating to the assessment, the goods shall, without prejudice to any other action which may be taken under this Act, be re-assessed to duty.
[(3) Subject to the guidelines, if any, given by the Board from time to time, the Commissioner of Customs or any other Customs officer authorised by him in this behalf may clear any goods or class of goods imported by an importer or a class of importers without examination and testing of the goods, wholly or partly under sub-section (1).
(4) Upon delivery or transmission of the bill of entry for the goods cleared or to be cleared under sub-section (3) the duty shall be deemed to have been duly assessed for the purposes of this section:
Provided that where the appropriate officer has reason to believe that in case of any bill of entry re-assessment is necessary, he may, by recording reasons in writing re-assess the duty payable for the goods and take such other actions as he may deem fit under this Act.]
Provisional assessment of duty
81. (1) Where it is not possible immediately to assess the customs-duty that may be payable on any imported goods entered for home-consumption or for warehousing or for clearance from a warehouse for home-consumption or on any goods entered for exportation, for the reason that the goods require chemical or other test or a further enquiry for purposes of assessment, or that all the documents or complete documents or full information pertaining to those goods have not been furnished, an officer not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Customs may order that the duty payable on such goods be assessed provisionally:
Provided that the importer (save in the case of goods entered for warehousing) or the exporter pays such additional amount as security or furnishes such guarantee of a scheduled bank for the payment thereof as the said officer deems sufficient to meet the excess of the final assessment of duty over the provisional assessment.
[(2) Where any goods are allowed to be cleared or delivered on the basis of such provisional assessment, the amount of duty actually payable on those goods shall, within a period of one hundred and twenty working days from the date of the provisional assessment, where there is a case pending at any court, tribunal or appellate authority, from the date of receipt of the final disposal order of that case, be finally assessed and on completion of such assessment the appropriate officer shall order that the amount already guaranteed be adjusted against the amount payable on the basis of final assessment, and the difference between them shall be paid forthwith to or by the importer or exporter as the case may be:
Provided that the Board may, under exceptional circumstances recorded in writing, extend the period of final assessment specified under this sub-section.]
Procedure in case of goods not cleared or warehoused or transhipped after unloading within a specified period
[82. [(1)] If any goods are not entered and cleared for home consumption or warehoused or transhipped within [thirty] days of the date of unloading thereof at a customs-port or a land customs station [or customs-inland container depot], or within [twenty one] days of the date of unloading thereof at a customs airport or within such extended period as the appropriate officer may allow, such goods may, after due notice given to the owner, if his address could be ascertained, or published in the newspaper, if his address could not be ascertained, be sold under the orders of the appropriate officer:
Provided that-
(a) animals and perishable and hazardous goods may, with the permission of the appropriate officer, be sold at any time;
(b) arms, ammunition or military stores may be sold or otherwise disposed of at such time and place and in such manner as the Board may, with the approval of the Government, direct:
Provided further that nothing in this section shall authorise removal for home consumption of any dutiable goods without payment of customs-duties thereon.]
[(2) Where any goods are sold under sub-section (1) pending adjudication, appeal, revision or decision of a Court, the proceeds of such sale shall be deposited into the Government treasury; and, if on such adjudication or in such appeal or revision it is found or if the Court finds that the goods so sold are not liable to confiscation, the proceeds of the sale shall, after necessary deduction of duties, taxes or dues as provided in section 201, be refunded to the owner.]
Procedure in case of goods not assessed or out-passed by Customs after presentation of the related bill of entry within a specified period
[82A. If any goods, other than goods detained, seized, confiscated, under adjudication or appeal under the provisions of this Act, for which a bill of entry has duly been presented, are not assessed and out-passed within seven working days the owner of such goods may serve a notice upon the Commissioner to finalise the Customs formalities within three working days enabling him to pay duty and taxes and clear the goods, and the said Commissioner or any officer authorised on his behalf shall do so, if the import is in order, or issue a show cause notice if the import is not in order.
Explanation.- For the purpose of this section “detained goods” include goods detained for chemical examination, radiation test, and reference for resolution disputes on of classification, value, ITC aspect or any other legal disputes.]
Chapter X
CLEARANCE OF GOODS FOR HOME-CONSUMPTION
Clearance for home-consumption
83. [(1)] When the owner of any goods entered for home-consumption and assessed under section 80 has paid the import duty and other charges, if any in respect of the same, the appropriate officer, if he is satisfied that the import of the goods is not prohibited or in breach of any restrictions or conditions applying to the import of such goods, may make an order for the clearance of the same.
[(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the importer or a class of importers for any goods, notified under section 80(3), shall be allowed clearance without any formal order under sub-section (1) of this section and such goods shall be deemed to have been duly allowed to pass.]
[(3) The Board may, by special order, in the public interest, allow any government or semi-government organization or statutory public authority to take clearance of goods without paying the import duty and other charges on submission of a guarantee that such a duty and charges shall be paid within specific period to be determined by the board.]
Amendment of assessment
[83A. (1) An officer of Customs not below the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of Customs may from time to time make or cause to be made such amendments to an assessment of duty or to the value taken for the purpose of assessment of duty as he thinks necessary in order to ensure the correctness of the assessment even though the goods to which the value or the duty relates have already passed out of Customs control or the duty originally assessed has been paid.
(2) If the amendment has the effect of imposing a fresh liability or enhancing an existing liability, a demand notice in writing shall be given by the officer of Customs to the person liable for the duty.
(3) Unless otherwise specified in this Act, the due date for payment against the aforesaid demand notice shall be thirty working days from the date of issue of such a written demand notice by the officer of Customs.
Limitation of time for amendment of assessments
83B. (1) Where an assessment of duty has been made under this Act, the officer of Customs is not entitled to increase the amount of the assessment after the expiration of three years from the date on which the original assessment was made.
(2) Notwithstanding sub-section (1) of this section, in any case where the entry or any declaration made in relation to the goods was fraudulent or wilfully misleading, the officer of Customs may amend the assessment at any time [***] so as to increase the amount of the assessment.
Audit or examination of records
83C. (1) An officer of Customs may at any time enter any premises or place where records are kept pursuant to section 211 of this Act and audit and examine those records either in relation to specific transactions or to the adequacy or integrity of the manual or electronic system or systems by which such records are created and stored.
(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1) of this section, an officer of Customs shall have full and free access to all lands, buildings and places and to all books, records and documents, whether in the custody or under the control of the licensee, importer, exporter or any other person, for the purpose of inspecting any books, records, and documents and any property, process, or matter that the officer considers,-
(a) necessary or relevant for the purpose of collecting any duty under the Act or for the purpose of carrying out any other function lawfully conferred on the officer, or
(b) likely to provide any information otherwise required for the purposes of this Act or for the discharge of any functions under this Act.
(3) The officer of Customs may make extracts from or copies of any such books, documents or records.
(4) Notwithstanding sub-sections (2) and (3) of this section, an officer of Customs shall not enter any private dwelling except with the consent of an occupier or owner thereof or pursuant to a warrant issued under this Act.]
Power to appoint auditor, etc.
[83D. Board may, by issuance of special order, appoint, on such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, professional auditor or audit firm for carrying out audit on any Customs matter, and such auditor or audit firm shall be deemed to be an officer of Customs for the purpose of this section.]
Authorized Economic Operator
[83E. (1) [The Commissioner of Customs (Valuation and Internal Audit) shall, in a manner prescribed by the Board] , award the status of an Authorized Economic Operator to the persons established in Bangladesh who have demonstrated an appropriate level of compliance with this Act and rules made thereunder and fulfill such other criteria related to compliance or the risk of non-compliance as prescribed by the Board.
(2) An Authorized Economic Operator shall enjoy simplified Customs formalities in accordance with the terms and conditions as prescribed by the Board.
(3) The Government may enter into international agreements to award the Authorized Economic Operator benefits provided under this section to the persons established in countries other than Bangladesh:
Provided that the Government is satisfied that the conditions and obligations defined by the relevant legislation of such other countries are equivalent to those prescribed under this section and that such benefits are allowed to persons established in Bangladesh on a reciprocal basis.
(4) Subject to international agreements to sub-section (3), the Board shall award the Authorized Economic Operator benefits provided under this section to those persons who fulfill the conditions and comply with obligations defined by the relevant legislation of the foreign country.]
Application to warehouse
84. When any dutiable goods have been entered for warehousing and assessed under section 80, the owner of such goods may apply for leave to deposit the same in any warehouse appointed or licensed under this Act.
Form of application
85. Every such application shall be in writing signed by the applicant, and shall be in such form as may be prescribed by the Board.
Warehousing bond
86. (1) When any such application has been made in respect of any goods, the owner of the goods to which it relates shall execute a bond, binding himself in a penalty of twice the amount of the duty assessed under section 80 or section 81 [* * *] on such goods,-
(a) to observe all the provisions of this Act and the rules in respect of such goods;
(b) to pay on or before a date specified in a notice of demand all duties, rent and charges payable in respect of such goods together with interest on the same from the date so specified at the rate [to be determined by the Board, being a rate not less than the bank rate fixed by the Bangladesh Bank and not more than double the Bank rate so fixed]; and
(c) to discharge all penalties incurred for violation of the provisions of this Act and the rules in respect of such goods.
(2) Every such bond shall be in such form as is from time to time prescribed by the Board, and shall relate to the goods or portion of the goods of one conveyance only.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in sub-section (2), for the purposes of sub-section (1), the [Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board] may permit any importer to enter into a general bond in such amount and subject to such conditions, limitations or restrictions as the [Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board] may determine in respect of the warehousing of goods to be imported by such importer within a specified period.
(4) A bond executed under this section by an importer in respect of any goods shall continue in force notwithstanding the transfer of the goods to any other person or the removal of the goods to another warehouse or warehousing station:
Provided that, where the whole of the goods or any part thereof are transferred to another person, the appropriate officer may accept a fresh bond from the transferee in a sum equal to twice the amount of the duty assessed on the goods transferred and thereupon the bond executed by the transferor shall be deemed to be discharged to the extent to which the fresh bond has been executed by the transferee.
Warehousing bank guarantee
[86A. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act regarding execution of a bond in relation to clearance of goods for warehousing, the Board or a Commissioner of Customs authorised in this behalf by the Board, may, in addition to requiring execution of bond, direct that a bank guarantee, for an amount not exceeding the duties leviable on the goods, be furnished in such manner as may be prescribed.]
Forwarding of goods to warehouse
[87. (1) When the provisions of sections 85 and 86 have been complied with in respect of any goods, such goods shall be delivered to the owner of such goods or his authorised representative for onward transportation to the warehouse in which they are to be deposited.
(2) A pass shall be sent with the goods specifying the name of the owner of such goods and the name or number of the importing conveyance, the marks, numbers and contents of each package, and the warehouse or place in the warehouse wherein they are to be deposited.
(3) After depositing such goods mentioned in sub-section (1) the owner of such goods shall inform the concerned Commissioner of Customs regarding the warehousing of the goods.]
Receipt of goods at warehouse
88. (1) On receipt of the goods, the pass shall be examined by the warehouse-keeper, and shall be returned to the appropriate officer.
(2) No package, butt, cask or other container shall be admitted into any warehouse unless it bears the marks and numbers specified in, and otherwise corresponds with, the pass for its admission.
(3) if the goods be found to correspond with the pass, the warehouse-keeper shall certify to that effect on the pass, and the warehousing of such goods shall be deemed to have been completed.
(4) If the goods do not so correspond, the fact shall be reported by the warehouse-keeper for the orders of the appropriate officer, and the goods shall either be returned to the custom-house in charge of an officer of Customs or kept in deposit pending such orders as the warehouse-keeper deems most convenient.
(5) If the quantity or value of any goods has been incorrectly stated in the bill of entry, due to inadvertence or bona fide error, the error may be rectified at any time before the warehousing of the goods is completed, and not subsequently.
Goods how warehoused
89. Except as provided in section 94, all goods shall be warehoused in the packages, butts, casks or other containers in which they have been imported.
Warrant to be given when goods are warehoused
90. (1) Whenever any goods are lodged in a public warehouse or a licensed private warehouse, the warehouse-keeper shall deliver a warrant signed by him as such to the person lodging the goods.
(2) Such warrant shall be in such form as the Board may from time to time prescribe, and shall be transferable by the endorsement; and the endorsee shall be entitled to receive the goods specified in such warrant on the same terms as those on which the person who originally lodged the goods would have been entitled to receive the same.
(3) The Board may, by notification in the official Gazette, exempt any class of goods from the operation of this section.
Control over warehoused goods
[91. (1) All warehoused goods shall be subject to the control of the appropriate officer.
(2) The appropriate officer may cause any warehouse, except a special bonded warehouse, to be locked.
(3) Subject to sub-section (4), no person shall, without the written permission of the appropriate officer-
(a) enter into a warehouse or remove any goods therefrom.
(b) unlock the warehouse which is locked under sub-section (2).
(4) An officer-
(a) not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Customs of the Customs Inspection Directorate or of the Customs Intelligence and [Investigation Directorate or of the Customs Valuation and Internal Audit Commissionerate, or]
(b) below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Customs [of the said Directorates and Commissionerate] authorised by the officer mentioned in clause (a),
shall have access to any part of a warehouse and power to examine the goods, records, accounts and documents therein and ask any question as may deem necessary.]
Power to cause packages lodged in warehouse to be opened and examined
92. (1) The appropriate officer may at any time by order in writing direct that any goods or packages lodged in any warehouse shall be opened, weighed or otherwise examined; and, after any goods have been so opened, weighed or examined, may cause the same to be sealed or marked in such manner as he thinks fit.
(2) When any goods have been so sealed and marked after examination, they shall not be again opened without the permission of the appropriate officer; and, when any such goods have been opened with such permission, the packages shall, if he thinks fit, be again sealed or marked.
Access of owners to warehoused goods
93. (1) Any owner of goods lodged in a warehouse shall, at any time within the hours of business, have access to his goods in the presence of an officer of Customs, and an officer of Customs shall, upon application for the purpose being made in writing to the appropriate officer, be deputed to accompany such owner.
(2) When an officer of Customs is specially employed to accompany such owner, a sum sufficient to meet the expense thereby incurred shall, subject to rules, be paid by such owner to the appropriate officer, and such sum shall, if the appropriate officer so directs, be paid in advance.
Owner’s power to deal with warehoused goods
94. (1) With the sanction of the appropriate officer and on payment of such fees as may be prescribed by rules, the owner of any goods may, either before or after warehousing the same -
(a) separate damaged or deteriorated goods from the rest;
(b) sort the goods or change their containers for the purpose of preservation, sale, export or disposal of the goods;
(c) deal with the goods and their containers in such manner as may be necessary to prevent loss or deterioration or damage to the goods;
(d) show the goods for sale; or
(e) take such samples of goods as may be allowed by the appropriate officer with or without entry for home-consumption, and with or without payment of duty, except such as may eventually become payable on a deficiency of the original quantity.
(2) After any such goods have been so separated and repacked in proper or approved packages, the appropriate officer may, at the request of the owner of such goods, cause or permit any refuse, damaged or surplus goods remaining after such separation or repacking (or at the like request, any goods which may not be worth the duty) to be destroyed, and may remit the duty payable thereon.
Manufacture and other operations in relation to goods in a warehouse
95. (1) Subject to rules, the owner of any warehoused goods may, [by giving fifteen days prior notice in writing to the [Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board]], carry on any manufacturing process or other operations in the warehouse in relation to such goods.
(2) Where in the course of any such operation or process there is any waste or refuse the following provisions shall apply, namely:-
(a) if the whole or any part of the goods produced by such operation or process are exported, no duty shall be charged on the quantity of the warehoused goods wasted or turned into refuse in the course of the operation or processing carried on in relation to the goods exported:
Provided that such waste or refuse is either destroyed or duty is paid on such waste or refuse as if it had been imported into Bangladesh in that form.
[(b) If the whole or any part of the goods produced by such operation or process are cleared from the warehouse for home-consumption, duty and other taxes shall be charged on the quantity of such goods cleared for home-consumption and also on the warehoused goods wasted or turned into refuse in the course of the operation or processing carried on in relation to such goods cleared for home-consumption in a manner to be prescribed by rules:
Provided that the value for assessment purposes under this clause shall, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, be determined by the [Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board].]
Payment of rent and warehouse-dues
[96. (1) The owner of any warehoused goods shall pay to the warehouse-keeper rent and other charges at the rates fixed under any law for the time being in force or where no rates are so fixed, at such rates as may be fixed by the Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs or by agreement between the owner of the warehouse and the owner of warehoused goods.
(2) A table of the rates of rent and other charges fixed under sub-section (1) shall be displayed in a conspicuous part of such warehouse.
(3) If any rent or other charges are not paid within ten days from the date when they become due, the warehouse-keeper may, after due notice to the owner of the warehoused goods and with the permission of the appropriate officer, cause to be sold (any transfer of the warehoused goods notwithstanding) such portion of the goods as may be sufficient to realise the unpaid rent and other charges.]
Goods not to be taken out of warehouse except as provided by this Act
97. No warehoused goods shall be taken out of any warehouse, except on clearance for home-consumption or export or for removal to another warehouse, or as otherwise provided in this Act.
Period for which goods may remain warehoused
[98.(1) Goods imported for and warehoused in any special bonded warehouse or in any hundred percent export oriented industry, may remain in such warehouse or industry for a period not exceeding twenty four months from the date of warehousing :
(2) The Commissioaner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioaner of Customs authorized by the Board in this behalf may extend the period of warehousing mentioned in sub-section (1) for further period of six months if the goods specified in sub-section (1) are not likely to deteriorate.]
[(2A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) and (2), goods imported and warehoused by a hundred percent export oriented ship building industry, may remain in such warehouse for a period not exceeding forty eight months from the date of warehousing.]
(3) Goods imported for and warehoused in any diplomatic bonded warehouse, may remain in the warehouse for a period not exceeding twelve months from the date of warehousing.
[(4) Warehoused goods other than the goods mentioned in sub-sections (1), (2A) and (3) may remain in the warehouse for a period not exceeding six months following the date of execution of the bond under section 86 in respect of such goods.]]
(5) In the case of any goods specified in sub-sections (3) and (4) which are not likely to deteriorate, the period for warehousing of such goods may, with reasons in writing, be extended by the Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorized by the Board in this behalf for a period not exceeding three months and subsequently by the Board for a further period not exceeding three months.
(6) The Commissioner of customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorized by the Board in this behalf may reduce the period for warehousing mentioned in sub-sections (1), (3), and (4) to such reasonable period as he deems fit in each case, if the goods mentioned in sub-sections are likely to deteriorate.]
Goods to be removed if license is cancelled
[98A. When the licence of any private warehouse is cancelled, the owner of any goods warehoused therein shall, within ten days of the date on which notice of such cancellation is given or within such extended period, as the appropriate officer may allow, remove the goods from that warehouse to another warehouse or clear them for home-consumption or exportation.]
Power to remove goods from one warehouse to another in the same customs-station
99. (1) Any owner of goods warehoused under this Act may, within the period of their warehousing under section 98, and with the permission of the [Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board] [or any officer authorised for the purpose by the [Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board],] on such conditions and after giving such security, if any, as [that Commissioner] directs, remove goods from one warehouse to another warehouse in the same warehousing station.
(2) When any owner desires to remove any goods, he shall apply for permission to do so in such form as the Board may prescribe.
Power to remove goods from one warehousing station to another
100. (1) Any owner of goods warehoused at any warehousing station may, within the period of their warehousing under section 98, remove the same for the purpose of warehousing them at any other warehousing station.
(2) When any owner desires to remove any goods for such purpose, he shall apply to the [Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board] in such form and manner as the Board may prescribe stating therein the particulars of the goods to be removed, and the name of the customs-station to which they are to be removed.
Transmission of account of goods to officers at
warehousing station of destination
101. (1) When permission is granted for the removal of any goods from one warehousing station to another under section 100, an account containing the particulars thereof shall be transmitted by the appropriate officer of the customs-station of removal to the appropriate officer of the customs-station of destination.
(2) The person requiring the removal shall before such removal enter into a bond with one sufficient surety, in a sum equal at least to the duty chargeable on such goods, for the due arrival and re-warehousing thereof at the custom-station of destination, within such time, as the [Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board] directs.
(3) Such bond may be taken by the appropriate officer either the customs-station of removal or at the customs-station of destination as best suits the convenience of the owner.
(4) If such bond is taken at customs-station of destination, a certificate thereof signed by the appropriate officer of such station shall at the time of the removal of such goods be produced to the appropriate officer at the customs-station of removal; and such bond shall not be discharged unless such goods are produced to the appropriate officer, and duly re-warehoused at the customs-station of destination within the time allowed for such removal or are otherwise accounted for to the satisfaction of such officer; nor until the full duty due upon any deficiency of such goods, not so accounted for, has been paid.
[(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in the aforesaid sub-sections, the [Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board] may prescribe such conditions as he deems fit for the removal of warehoused goods from special bonded warehouse.]
Remover may enter into a general bond
102. The [Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board] may permit any person desirous of removing warehoused goods to enter into a general bond, with such sureties, in such amount and under such conditions as [that Commissioner] approves, for the removal, from time to time, of any goods from one warehouse to another, either in the same or in a different warehousing station and for the due arrival and re-warehousing of such goods at the destination within such time as [that Commissioner] directs.
Goods on arrival at customs-station of destination to be subject to same laws as goods on first importation
103. Upon the arrival of warehoused goods at the customs-station of destination, they shall be entered and warehoused in like manner as goods are entered and warehoused on the first importation thereof, and under the laws and rules, in so far as such laws and rules are applicable, which regulate the entry and warehousing of such last-mentioned goods.
Clearance of bonded goods for home-consumption
[104. Any owner of warehoused goods may, at any time within the period of their warehousing under section 98, subject to submission of an ex-bond bill of entry in such form and manner and containing such particulars as the Board may direct, to the Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board, clear such goods for home-consumption by paying-
(a) the duty assessed on such goods under the provisions of this Act; and
(b) all rent, penalties, interest and other charges payable in respect of such goods:
Provided that necessary permission shall be taken from Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board fifteen days in advance in case of special bonded warehouse for special purposes to be determined by the Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board.]
Clearance of warehoused goods for export
105. Any owner of warehoused goods may, at any time within the period of their warehousing under section 98, clear such goods for export out of Bangladesh on payment of all rent, penalties, interest and other charges payable as aforesaid but without paying any import duty thereon:
Provided that, if the Government is of the opinion that warehoused goods of any specified description are likely to be smuggled back into Bangladesh, it may, by notification in the official Gazette, direct that such goods shall not be exported to any place outside Bangladesh without payment of duty or allow them to be exported subject to such restrictions and conditions as may be specified in the notification.
Clearance of warehoused goods for export as provisions, on a conveyance proceeding to foreign destination
106. Any warehoused provisions and stores may be exported within the period of their warehousing under section 98 without payment of import duty for use on board any conveyance proceeding to a foreign territory.
Application for clearance of goods
107. (1) An application to clear goods from any warehouse for home-consumption or for export shall be made in such form as the Board may prescribe.
(2) Such application shall ordinarily be made to the appropriate officer at least twenty-four hours before it is intended to clear such goods [:
Provided that in the case of Special Bonded Warehouses, the procedure to be followed will be determined by the [Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board].]
Re-assessment of warehoused goods when damaged or deteriorated
108. If any goods upon which duties are levied ad valorem are damaged or deteriorated due to an unavoidable accident or cause after they have been entered for warehousing and assessed under section 80 and before they are cleared for home consumption, their value in the damaged or deteriorated state may be appraised, if the owner so desires, by an officer of Customs and the duty leviable thereon shall be diminished in proportion to the diminution of their value and a new bond for twice the amount of the diminished duty may, at the option of the owner, be executed by him to replace the bond originally executed.
[Omitted.]
109. [Re-assessment on alteration of duty.- omitted by section 33 of
অর্থ আইন, ২০০১ (২০০১ সনের ৩০ নং আইন) .]
Allowance in case of volatile goods
110. When any warehoused goods of such class or description as the Board having regard to the volatility of such goods and the manner of their storage may, by notification in the official Gazette, specify are, at the time of delivery from a warehouse, found to be deficient in quantity and the [Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board] is satisfied that such deficiency is on account of natural loss, no duty shall be charged on such deficiency.
Duty on goods improperly removed from warehouse or allowed to remain beyond fixed time or lost or destroyed or taken as sample
111. In respect of goods specified hereunder the appropriate officer may demand and upon such demand the owner of such goods shall forthwith pay the full amount of duty chargeable on such goods together with all rent, penalties, interest and other charges payable in respect of them, namely:-
(a) Warehoused goods which are removed in contravention of section 97.
(b) Goods which have not been removed from the warehouse within the time allowed for such removal under section 98.
(c) Goods in respect of which a bond has been executed [under section 86 or as prescribed by rules made under this Act] and which have not been cleared for home-consumption or export or removed in accordance with the provisions of this Act and are lost or destroyed otherwise than as provided in sections 94 and 95 or as mentioned in section 115, or are not accounted for to the satisfaction of the appropriate officer.
(d) Goods which have been taken under section 94 as samples without payment of duty.
Procedure on failure to pay duty, etc.
112. [(1) If any owner fails to pay any sum demanded under section 111, the appropriate officer may either proceed upon the bond executed under 86 or as prescribed by rules made under this Act or cause such portion of the owner's goods in the warehouse or any plant or machinery or equipment used for the manufacture of goods or any other goods and properties belonging to such persons to be detained as he may consider adequate to recover the demand, and the notice in writing for such detention, shall immediately be given to the owner.]
(2) In case the demand is not discharged within fifteen days of the date of such notice, the goods so detained may be sold.
(3) The net proceeds of any such sale shall be entered upon and adjusted against the bond and the surplus, if any, remaining after full satisfaction of the bond shall be disposed of in the manner provided in section 201.
(4) No transfer or assignment of the goods shall prevent the appropriate officer from proceeding against such goods in the manner above provided, for any amount due thereon.
Noting removal of goods
113. (1) When any warehoused goods are taken out of any warehouse, the appropriate officer shall cause the fact to be noted on the back of the bond.
(2) Every note so made shall specify the quantity and description of such goods, the purposes for which they have been removed, the date of removal, the name of the person removing them, the number and date of the bill of export under which they have been taken away, if removed for exportation, or of the bill of entry, if removed for home-consumption and the amount of duty paid, if any.
[(3) In case of Special Bonded warehouses, the procedure to be followed will be determined by the [Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board].]
Register of bonds
114. [(1) A register shall be kept of all bonds entered into for customs-duties on warehoused goods, and entry shall be made for all goods irrespective of duty paid or not in separate manner in such register of all particulars required by section 113 to be specified, or in the case of Special Bonded warehouse entry shall be made in a register to be prescribed by the Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board.]
(2) When such register shows that the whole of the goods covered by any bond have been cleared for home-consumption or export, or otherwise duly accounted for, and when all amounts due on account of such goods have been paid, the appropriate officer shall cancel such bond as discharged in full, and shall on demand deliver the cancelled bond to the person who executed it or who is entitled to receive it.
[(3) Any owner of a bonded warehouse or a special bonded warehouse shall make entry of the particulars of goods purchased from local market or imported by payment of duties and taxes into the register as prescirbed by the Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorized by the Board.]
Power to remit duties on warehoused goods lost or destroyed
115. If any warehoused goods, in respect of which a bond has been executed under section 86 and which have not been cleared for home-consumption are lost or destroyed by unavoidable accident or cause, the [Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board] may in his discretion remit the duties due thereon:
Provided that, if any such goods be so lost or destroyed in a private warehouse, [notice thereof in writing shall] be given to the appropriate officer [within [three] working days] after the discovery of such loss or destruction.
Responsibility of warehouse-keeper
116. The warehouse-keeper in respect of goods lodged in a public warehouse, and the licensee in respect of goods lodged in a private warehouse, shall be responsible for their due receipt therein and delivery therefrom, and their safe custody while deposited therein, according to the quantity, weight or gauge reported by the officer of Customs who has assessed such goods, allowance being made, if necessary, for deficiency in quantity on account of natural loss as provided in section 110:
Provided that no owner of goods shall be entitled to claim from the appropriate officer or from any keeper of a public warehouse, compensation for any loss or damage occurring to such goods while they are being passed into or out of such warehouse, or while they remain therein, unless it be proved that such loss or damage was occasioned by the wilful act or neglect of the warehouse-keeper or of an officer of Customs.
[Omitted.]
117. [Locking of warehouses.- Omitted by section 17 of the Finance Act, 2002 (Act No. XIV of 2002).]
[Omitted.]
117A. [Special bonded warehouse.- Inserted by section 5 of
অর্থ আইন, ১৯৯৫ (১৯৯৫ সনের ১২ নং আইন) and subsequently omitted by section 18 of
অর্থ আইন, ২০০২ (২০০২ সনের ১৪ নং আইন) .]
Power to decide where goods may be deposited in [warehouse], and on what terms
118. The [Commissioner of Customs (Bond) or any other Commissioner of Customs authorised by the Board] may from time to time determine in what division of any [warehouse], and in what manner, and on what terms, any goods may be deposited, and what sort of goods may be deposited in any such warehouse.
Expenses of carriage, packing, etc., to be borne by owner
119. The expenses of carriage, packing and storage of goods on their receipt into or removal from a public warehouse shall, if paid by the appropriate officer or by the warehouse-keeper, be chargeable on the goods and be defrayed by, and recoverable from, the owner, in the manner provided in section 112.
Power to add, alter or relax the condition, etc.
[119A. The [Board] may, by notification in the official Gazette, add or alter any condition or requirement contained in any provision of this chapter, and if it considers expedient, relax any provision thereof, to meet any special requirement.]
Performing the operation of bonded warehouse electronically
[119B. Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provisions of this Act or in any other law for the time being in force, the Board may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare that the operation of any bonded warehouse may be performed electronically subject to such conditions, restrictions and procedures as specified in that notification.]
Chapter not to apply to baggage or postal articles
120. The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to-
(a) baggage, and
(b) goods imported by post.
Transhipment of goods without payment of duty
121. Subject to the provisions of section 15 and the rules, the appropriate officer may, on application by the owner of any goods imported at any customs-station and specially and distinctly manifested at the time of importation as for transhipment to some other customs-station or foreign destination, grant leave to tranship the same without payment of duty, if any, chargeable on such goods at the customs-station of transhipment and, in case of goods to be transhipped to some other customs-station, with or without any security or bond for the due arrival and entry of the goods thereat.
Superintendence of transhipment
122. An officer of Customs shall, in every case, be deputed free of charge to superintend the removal of transhipped goods from one conveyance to another.
Entry, etc., of transhipped goods
123. All goods transhipped under section 121 to any customs station shall, on their arrival at such customs-station, be entered in the same manner as goods on their first importation and shall be dealt with like-wise.
Transhipment of provisions and stores from one conveyance to another of the same owner without payment of duty
124. Any provisions and stores in use or being carried for use on board a conveyance may, at the discretion of the appropriate officer be transhipped to another conveyance belonging wholly or partly to the same owner and present simultaneously at the same customs-station, without payment of duty.
Levy of transhipment fees
125. Subject to the rules, a transhipment fee on any goods or class of goods transhipped under this Act may be levied at such rates, according to weight, measurement, quantity, number, bale, package or container, as the Board may, by notification in the official Gazette, prescribe for any customs-station or class of customs-stations.
Chapter XIII
TRANSIT TRADE
Chapter not to apply to baggage and postal articles
126. The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to
(a) baggage, and
(b) goods imported by post.
Transit of goods in the same conveyance
127. (1) Subject to the provisions of section 15 and the rules any goods imported in a conveyance and mentioned in the import manifest as for transit in the same conveyance to a customs-station in Bangladesh or to any destination outside Bangladesh may be allowed to be so transited without payment of duty, if any, leviable on such goods at the customs-station of transit.
(2) Any stores and provisions imported on board a conveyance which is in transit through Bangladesh to a destination outside Bangladesh may, subject to rules, be allowed to be consumed on board that conveyance without payment of the duties which would otherwise be chargeable on them.
Transport of certain classes of goods subject to prescribed conditions
128. Any goods may be transported from one part of Bangladesh to another through any foreign territory, subject to such conditions as to their due arrival at the destination as may be prescribed by rules.
Transit of goods across Bangladesh to a foreign territory
129. Where any goods are entered for transit across Bangladesh to a destination outside Bangladesh, the appropriate officer may, subject to the provisions of the rules, allow the goods to be so transitted without payment of the duties which would otherwise be chargeable on such goods. [:
Provided that such transit shall be subject to the submission of a guarantee or security for goods in transit as a surety for customs duties and other taxes chargeable thereon.]
Cost of Transit
[129A. Fees as cost of services for goods and vehicles in transit across Bangladesh to a foreign territory may be levied at such rates as the Board may, by notification in the official Gazette, prescribe.]
Chapter XIV
EXPORTATION OR SHIPMENT AND RELANDING
No goods to be loaded on a conveyance, till entry outwards or permission granted
130. No goods other than passenger's baggage or mail bags or ballast urgently required for a vessel's safety shall be loaded or water-borne to be loaded on a conveyance at a place in a customs-station approved for the purpose under clause (b) of section 10, until an order under section 50 in respect of the conveyance has been given or permission in this behalf in writing has been granted by the appropriate officer.
Clearance for exportation
131. [(1)] No goods shall be loaded for exportation until-
(a) in the case of goods other than passengers' baggage and mail bag-
[(i) the owner has delivered to the appropriate officer or, if the owner is a registered user, he has transmitted to the Customs computer system, a bill of export in such form and manner and containing such particulars as the Board may, by order, direct from time to time [:
Provided that the Commissioner of Customs may within a period of six months require the owner who has electronically transmitted a bill of export to the Customs computer system to submit to the appropriate officer a bill of export in paper duly signed by him or his authorised agent containing such information as the said Commissioner may specify;]]
(ii) such owner has paid the duties payable on such goods;
(iii) such bill has been passed by the appropriate officer; and
(b) in the case of passengers' baggage or mail bags, the appropriate officer has permitted them to be exported:
Provided that the Board may in the case of any customs-station or wharf, by notification in the official Gazette, and subject to such restrictions and conditions, if any, as it thinks fit, exempt any specified goods or class of goods or any specified person or class of persons, from all or any of the provisions of this section [:
Provided further that where the appropriate officer, in a particular case, has reason to believe that exportation of any goods in respect of which exemption has been notified under the first proviso should be intervened before its loading for exportation, he may, upon recording reasons, examine the goods or the bill of export or both, and may take other necessary action under this Act.]
[(2) In a case where exemption has been allowed under the proviso to sub-section (1) and any goods have been exported subject to any conditions or under any guarantee or undertaking, the exporter shall forthwith fulfil such conditions or, as the case may be, the terms of the guarantee or undertaking and submit to the appropriate officer documents relating thereto, including proceeds realisation certificate or such other documentary evidence showing the remittance to Bangladesh of the sale proceeds of the goods exported as may be acceptable to the Board.]
Bond required in certain cases before exportation
132. Before any warehoused goods subject to excise duties, or goods entitled to drawback or repayment of customs-duties on exportation, or goods exportable only under particular rules or restrictions, are permitted to be exported, the owner shall, if required so to do, give security by bond in such sum not exceeding twice the duty leviable on such goods as the appropriate officer directs, with one sufficient surety, that such goods shall be exported and landed at the place for which they are entered outwards or shall be otherwise accounted for to the satisfaction of such officer.
Additional charge on goods cleared for export after port-clearance granted
133. Where the goods are cleared for shipment on a bill of export presented after port-clearance or permission to depart has been granted, the appropriate officer may, if he thinks fit, levy, in addition to any duty to which such goods are ordinarily liable, a charge not exceeding one per cent of the value of the goods determined in accordance with the provisions of section 25.
Notice of non-loading or re-landing and return of duty thereon
134. (1) If any goods mentioned in a bill of export or manifest be not loaded or be loaded and afterwards re-landed, the owner shall before the expiration of fifteen clear working days after the conveyance on which such goods were intended to be loaded or from which they were re-landed has left the customs-station, give information of such short-loading or re-landing to the appropriate officer save where the latter has occasioned the short-loading or re-landing.
(2) Upon an application being made to the appropriate officer within one year of such short-loading or re-landing any duty levied upon goods not loaded or upon goods loaded and afterwards re-landed shall be refunded to the person on whose behalf such duty was paid:
Provided that, where the required information of short-loading or re-landing is not given within the aforesaid period of fifteen days, the appropriate officer may make refund of duty contingent upon payment of such penalty, if any, as he may see fit to impose.
Goods re-landed or transhipped from a conveyance returning to a customs-station or putting into another customs-station
135. (1) If, after having cleared from any customs-station any conveyance without having discharged her cargo returns to such customs-station or puts into any other customs-station, any owner of goods in such conveyance, if he desires to land or tranship the same or any portion thereof for re-export, may, with the consent of the person-in-charge of the conveyance, apply to the appropriate officer in that behalf.
(2) The appropriate officer, if he grants the application, shall thereupon send an officer of Customs to watch the conveyance and to take charge of such goods during such re-landing or transhipment.
(3) Such goods shall not be allowed to be transhipped or re-exported free of duty by reason of the previous settlement of duty at the time of first export unless they are lodged and remain, until the time of re-export under the custody of an officer of Customs, in a place appointed by the appropriate officer, or are transhipped under such custody.
(4) All expenses attending such custody shall be borne by the owner.
Conveyance returning to customs-station may enter and land goods
136. (1) In either of the cases mentioned in section 135, the person-in-charge of the conveyance may enter such conveyance inwards and any owner of goods thereon may, with the consent of the person-in-charge of conveyance, land the same under the provisions of this Act and the rules.
(2) In every such case, any export duty paid shall be refunded on an application made by the owner of such goods within one year of their landing and any amount paid to owners as drawback or repayment of duty (whether of customs, excise or any other tax) shall be recovered from him or adjusted against the amount refundable.
Landing of goods during repairs
137. (1) The appropriate officer may, on application by the person-in-charge of a conveyance which is obliged before completing her journey or voyage to put into any customs-station for repairs, permit him to land the goods or any portion thereof, and to place it in the custody of an officer of Customs during such repairs, and to load and export the same free of duty.
(2) All expenses attending such custody shall be borne by the person-in-charge of the conveyance.
Frustrated cargo [and other than Frustrated cargo] how dealt with
138. (1) Where any goods are brought into a customs-station by reason of inadvertence, mis-direction or untraceability of the consignee, the Commissioner of Customs may, on application by the person-in-charge of the conveyance which brought such goods or of the consignor of such goods and subject to rules, allow export of such goods without payment of any duties (whether of import or export) chargeable thereon, provided that such goods have remained and a re-exported under the custody of an officer of Customs.
[(1A) Where any goods are brought into a customs-station by a reason other than the reasons mentioned in sub-section(1), the Commissioner of Customs may, with prior approval of the Board, allow re-exportation of such goods without payment of any duties chargeable thereon.]
(2) All expenses attending to such custody shall be borne by the applicant.
Chapter XV
SPECIAL PROVISIONS REGARDING BAGGAGE AND GOODS IMPORTED OR EXPORTED BY POST
Declaration by passenger or crew of baggage
139. The owner of any baggage whether a passenger or a member of the crew shall, for the purpose of clearing it, make a verbal or written declaration of its contents in such manner as may be prescribed by rules to the appropriate officer and shall answer such questions as the said officer may put to him with respect to his baggage and any article contained therein or carried with him and shall produce such baggage and any such article for examination.
Determination of rate of duty in respect of baggage
140. The rate of duty, if any, applicable to baggage shall be the rate in force on the date on which a declaration is made in respect of such baggage under section 139.
Bona fide baggage exempt from duty
141. The appropriate officer may, subject to the limitations, conditions and restriction specified in the rules, pass free of duty any article in the baggage of a passenger or a member of the crew in respect of which the said officer is satisfied that it is bona fide meant for the use of such passenger or for making gift.
Temporary detention of baggage
142. Where the baggage of passenger contains any article which is dutiable or the import of which is prohibited or restricted and in respect of which a true declaration has been made under section 139, the appropriate officer may, at the request of the passenger, detain such article for the purpose of being returned to him on his leaving Bangladesh.
Treatment of baggage of passengers or crew in transit
143. Baggage of passengers and members of the crew in transit in respect of which a declaration has been made under section 139, may be permitted by the appropriate officer, subject to such limitations, conditions and restrictions as may be specified in the rules, to be so transited without payment of duty.