Business people rue over closure of six small customs office

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, May 14: Business people in Banke district, who have long been demanding the reinstatement of seven small customs offices closed during the conflict period more than two decades ago, have expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to restore only one such office.

Before the armed conflict, small customs offices had been operating at Katkuiya in Suiya Baghouda, Narainapur, Bhagawanpur, Khadaicha Holiya, Bhaghotna in Hirminiya, Sai Gaun, and Udharapur, located west of Sai Gaun.

Industrialists and traders have objected to the government’s recent decision to reopen only the Narainapur small customs office in Banke. 

Former president of the Nepalgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry Krishna Prasad Shrestha said that reopening only one customs office would not be sufficient to control smuggling and illegal imports.

He stressed that all previously operating small customs offices should be brought back into operation to increase revenue collection and curb illegal imports and exports.

Shrestha also warned that after customs duties began being imposed on goods worth more than Rs. 100 at the main border checkpoint, there was a growing risk of illegal trade shifting to other entry points, making the reinstatement of all mini customs offices necessary.

Similarly, Abdul Wahid Mansuri, another former president of Nepalgunj CCI, said that reopening only one small customs office would not solve the problem, adding that additional customs offices and a new strategy were required.

According to him, stricter controls at the main border crossing could increase the likelihood of smuggling through other routes, thereby necessitating more small customs offices.

Likewise, Chiranjivi Oli, Senior Vice-President of the Nepalgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, expressed confidence that the reopening of small customs offices would benefit local traders, but noted that reopening only one office would not prevent revenue leakage.

Several business people in the district said that if the current strict measures are maintained, cross-border trade in the areas could flourish.

Meanwhile, Chief of the Nepalgunj Customs Office, Janardan Poudel, said preparations were under way to reopen the Narainapur small customs office in Banke. He informed that work related to physical infrastructure development and staff management was currently in progress.

Banke shares a 65-km open border with India. Ishtiyaq Ahmad Shah, Chairperson of Narainapur Rural Municipality, said that despite the presence of Nepali security personnel at the border points, customs evasion had continued.

He expressed hope that the establishment of the small customs office in Narainapur would help curb illegal imports and exports to some extent.