Scanner out of service for two months

One of the two scanners at the Benapole checkpost's international passenger terminal has been out of service for two months, inflicting suffering on the passengers bound for India as baggage is checked manually, which takes more time.  

Since the screening process is being disrupted, the risk of smuggling has increased, said passengers and other users.

At present, the officials in charge of the checkpost examine passenger bags manually. As a result, passengers have to stand in queue for longer than usual period.

The scanner has been inactive since the middle of June, according to the checkpost authorities.

Tutul Hossain, a passenger, said since a piece of baggage usually holds a significant volume of goods, it takes more time for officials to search them.

If the scanner had been active, the checking would have been completed in less time and it would have been easier for security officials to spot illegal or undeclared goods, he said.

Owing to the inactive scanner, the risks of the movement of goods without paying required duties and even illegal products have grown, said a number of passengers.

Thousands of passengers use the Benapole port to travel to India for medical and business purposes daily thanks to good connectivity on this route.

Ibrahim Hossain, assistant revenue official at the Benapole Customs Checkpost, said there are two scanners in the customs building of the checkpost to prevent smuggling.

While the scanner used in checking the pieces of baggage of passengers returning to India is operational, the other one used to scan the bags belonging to outbound passengers has remained non-functional, he said.

Safayet Hossain, joint commissioner of the Benapole Customs House, said senior officials have been informed to activate the non-functional scanner.

"I heard that it will be activated by bringing machinery from China. The equipment has not arrived yet. So, baggage is currently being checked manually since there is no other alternative."