The customs authorities have frozen bank accounts of Abdul Monem Group and its sister concern for non-payment of customs duty and taxes worth Tk 6.74 billion.

Sources said the Abdul Monem Sugar Refinery did not comply with the customs law on home consumption bond to import and refine raw sugar for a six-month period.

The company is supposed to pay the import taxes after the expiry of the period.

However, the amount remains unpaid despite several notices resulting in stern action by the bond commissionarate, south of customs wing under the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

In a letter on April 23, 2024, the customs bond ordered Dutch Bangla Bank, Bank Asia and Jamuna Bank to suspend transactions from bank accounts of the company.

The customs authorities also ordered all the customs houses across the country to lock the business identification number (BIN) of the company for not allowing the company to import or export.

A copy of this letter has also been sent to the Export Promotion Bureau.

Under the order, field-level customs offices across the county would not allow the business group to clear their imported goods from ports too.

The NBR letter says the Abdul Monem Sugar Refinery has removed 5,25,000 tonnes of raw sugar from their bonded warehouse without paying customs duties worth Tk 12.05 billion.

However, the company paid only Tk 5.33 billion in six installments. But, the remaining Tk 6.74 billion remained unpaid.

Despite several attempts for comments, Abdul Monem Group's spokesperson could not be reached over phone.