The strike brought revenue collection of customs down to zero, resulting in a huge loss to the government. The government collects about Rs 200 million in revenue including customs duty, value added tax, agricultural development fee and others from imports every day.
Some 1,300 customs agents across the country took to the street protesting Monday´s incidence, wherein a group of people affiliated to Matrika Yadav-led CPN (Maoist) manhandled and rubbed soot on the face of Kebal Kumar Bhandari, chief of Birgunj customs office.
The group had demanded the customs chief to restrict entry of furnace oil´s consignment belonging to the Bethani Group. They had claimed the consignment contained diesel, and not furnace oil, as the importer reported.
However, the customs had cleared the consignment after a laboratory test proved it was furnace oil.
“It is intolerable that the ´unwanted´ group simply forced into the office and manhandled its chief just because he refused to fulfill their undue demand. This practice must end,” said Jaya Shivakoti, president of Customs Clearance Agents´ Federation (CCAF).
Agents even claimed that the problem that surfaced at Birgunj customs actually had nothing to do with anomalies at customs. Instead, they claimed it was an outcome of conflict that the faction had had with the trader.
"The mess they created was nothing but their attempt to fulfill their ´interest´ in a different way by compelling the customs officials,” said Shivakoti.
Whatever may be the cause, the agents said, the government must bring an end to this practice of people flexing their muscles to get their interests served.
“Customs operation is sensitive and has huge meaning in government´s operations. Any disturbances in it can adversely affect fiscal operations. Hence, we urge the government to assure us that such incidence will not happen in the future,” CCAF said in a statement.
Civil servants in Birgunj also went on a strike, halting operations of all government offices on Tuesday as a protest to the incident of manhandling the customs chief.
Related story
OAG to govt: Hike customs duty on gold
