In order to facilitate border trade cooperation, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has established a number of committees that bring together members from several agencies to expedite trade procedures. As stated in a notification issued on Monday, this decision comes after panels were formed for each of the six customs houses, including the Customs House in Chattogram and the Customs House in Dhaka.
Similar committees have also been set up for two international airports, Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong and Osmani International Airport in Sylhet, as well as 10 Land Customs Stations. Representatives from trade associations, shipping companies, and freight forwarders will make up each of the 24 committees, which will be entrusted with locating export, import, and transit bottlenecks and suggesting ways to overcome them.
“We have initiated this effort to facilitate border trade effectively. The committees will work to resolve issues, ensuring that businesses encounter fewer obstacles in the future,” stated Kazi Mostafizur Rahman, a member of NBR’s customs audit, modernization, and international trade division.
This program is in line with the Trade Facilitation Agreement of the World Trade Organisation, which Bangladesh joined in 2017. The National Single Window (NSU), the National Enquiry Point, the Authorised Economic Operator program, Pre-Arrival Processing, and Post-Clearance Audit are just a few of the initiatives the NBR has since put in place to improve trade efficiency.
Notwithstanding these initiatives, the NBR pointed out that some consignment delays have raised trade costs, which has hurt Bangladesh’s ability to compete. In response, the emphasis has switched to encouraging cooperation and coordination between several organisations, such as the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institutions, the Port Authority, the Plant Quarantine Office under the Department of Agricultural Extension, and the Border Guard Bangladesh.
In order to better serve the business community, the newly established committees will meet every three months to coordinate agency efforts to harmonise working days and hours and debate trade-related concerns.