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Tech import shrouds illegalities

Casino game MahJong found in smartphone factory


Published : 02 Oct 2019 08:55 PM | Updated : 05 Sep 2020 06:48 AM

A smartphone factory in Narayanganj has been illegally importing casino games into the country under the shroud of importing raw materials for smartphones. Prior to this, the approval of setting up a smartphone factory in Narayanganj was acquired along with the permission and non-objection certificate for importing smartphone raw materials. However, casino game equipment popularly known as MahJong have been found inside the factory. On September 29, a team of the Customs Intelligence Directorate launched a raid on the factory called Best Tycoon (BD) at Narayanganj and retrieved MahJong equipment.

This is popular in casinos in China and Hong Kong, and have mainly been imported as mobile phone raw material into Bangladesh. However, the name of the product is mentioned as MahJong in the declaration made to Customs during the release of the product. Also, it was on the list of materials for the mobile phone factory even though MahJong is not used in the production of mobile handsets in any way.

Thus, the question arises, what else is coming into the country behind the name of technology. Experts believe that if such illegal products are introduced in the name of importing equipment for smartphone factory, the saying of ‘Made in Bangladesh’ in the field of technology will also get questioned. Monirul Bashar, a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Mobile Phone Importers Association (BMPI), told organisational action will be taken against the members of this organisation if they are found to be involved in any illegal activities.

Meanwhile, a letter has been sent to the managing director of Vivo Mobile Company (BD) Ltd on behalf of the organisation to show cause. In addition, a letter has been sent to the chairman of BTRC requesting appropriate legal action against the businessmen who are violating laws on import. BTRC Chairman Zahurul Haque told that if anyone disobeyed or violated the rules of BTRC, appropriate legal action will be taken against them and no quarter will be given. The raid:

Casino table of MahJong was found through a raid by the Directorate of Customs Intelligence in the factory named Best Tycoon (BD) at Bhultala in Narayanganj. According to the investigation, this factory is supposed to produce Vivo branded Chinese smartphones. According to the latest data from Counterpoint, the official statistics provider of smartphone arena, Chinese brand Vivo currently occupies 5 percent of the market worldwide. Although this brand is not very popular in Bangladesh yet.

No one was arrested in that operation. For this reason, the Assistant Director of the Customs Intelligence Department, Abdullah Al Mamun, told that since there was no evidence of use of MahJong in the factory, no one was arrested or detained as per the rules. The import of this product is being investigated further.

Shamima Akhtar, additional director general of the directorate of operations, told reporters on the day of the operation, that they conducted the operation on the basis of confidential information. During the raid they got a casino device called 'MahJong'. This is not a raw material for mobile handset production and has been imported by false declaration of customs for tax evasion.