Six textile companies face probe over alleged 269cr taka duty evasion
The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) has detected preliminary evidence of 269.48 taka crore in customs duty and tax evasion at six textile companies in Narayanganj following simultaneous raids over alleged misuse of bonded warehouse facilities.
The companies allegedly imported yarn, raw materials and chemicals duty-free under bond facilities but failed to account for substantial quantities of the imported goods, raising suspicions that they were diverted to the domestic market illegally.
CIID teams, with assistance from the Special Response Battalion (SRB), conducted the raids on October 8, 2026, at six bonded textile establishments in Rupganj, Bandar and Araihazar upazilas of Narayanganj, according to a CIID press release.
During the operations, officials found significant discrepancies between the actual stocks of yarn, fabrics, chemicals and other raw materials in the warehouses and the figures recorded in stock registers and the Customs Bond Management System (CBMS).
After collecting and analysing import-related information from the National Board of Revenue’s (NBR) Management Information System (MIS), the investigators initially estimated the duty and tax evasion at 269,48,55,807 taka.
Sim Fabrics Ltd in Rupganj accounted for the highest estimated amount of evasion at around 90.77 crore taka, followed by Jahin Knitwears Ltd in Bandar at 64.61 taka crore and Sanjana Fabrics Ltd in Rupganj at 60.33 taka crore.
The other companies are Bonafide Knitting Mills Ltd in Araihazar, where the preliminary estimate stands at 39.50 crore taka; Mozzaffar Hossain Spinning Mills Ltd in Rupganj at 4.83 crore taka; and Jamal Uddin Textiles Pvt Ltd in Bandar at 9.45 crore taka.
The CIID suspects that the companies may have sold duty-free imported materials in the open market instead of using them for authorised production and export purposes.
Bonded warehouse facilities are intended to help export-oriented industries remain competitive by allowing them to import raw materials without paying customs duties and taxes.
However, the illegal diversion of such materials into the domestic market deprives the government of revenue and creates unfair competition for businesses that import raw materials after paying applicable duties and taxes, the release said.
The raids found shortages of substantial quantities of yarn and fabrics at some establishments, while others had stocks exceeding their declared quantities.
Officials collected documents and information relating to imports, production, stock and the use of raw materials from the six companies for further examination.
The CIID said verification and analysis of the collected information were under way, adding that the preliminary estimate of 269.48 taka crore could change following the completion of the investigation.
The actual amount of revenue evasion will be determined after the final investigation, and legal action will be taken against those found responsible in accordance with existing laws.
The directorate said it would continue intelligence surveillance and enforcement operations to prevent the misuse of bonded warehouse facilities, illegal diversion of imported goods and revenue evasion.