NBR plans to install more luggage scanners at ports

The customs authority plans to install more luggage scanners at all air and land ports in a bid to curb smuggling and free travellers of the hassle of discretion-based checks at arrival and departure gates.

Initially, 10 luggage scanners and five human body scanners have been slated for purchase while eventually more will be installed to strengthen automated checkpoints and stem the flow of contraband, according to a senior official of the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

"We are considering installing scanners at all customs stations across the country," the official said, adding that the first 15 scanners would likely be bought within the current fiscal year.

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh's largest airport, handles around 20,000 travellers on a daily basis with just six luggage scanners while Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram has only four scanners in operation.

Meanwhile Benapole Land Port, the country's most active land port, has two scanners and Osmani International Airport in Sylhet has one.

Related officials said once the new scanners were in place, luggage would be scanned for signs of suspicion before being taken for further examination if needed as opposed to being manually searched.

Besides, the need to conduct body searches at these ports will decline following the installation of automated scanners at customs areas.

The new machinery will mainly be installed at the Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet airports, according to an official.

"Although using scanners will not totally stop the flow of contraband, they will act as a deterrent to smugglers," he said.

Bangladesh registered gradual spikes in traveller movements over the last couple of years. During fiscal 2017-18, nearly 56 lakh travellers arrived through various ports in the country, posting a 10 per cent increase from the previous year.

The number of outgoing travellers increased 5 per cent to 55.80 lakh in fiscal 2017-18, according to the NBR's Annual Report.

In total, the country's ports handled 7 per cent more, or 1.10 crore, inbound and outbound travellers during that period when compared to the previous fiscal year.