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National Board of Revenue is going to launch a set of modules of the Bangladesh National Single Window project by December to facilitate international trade for local traders, said NBR officials.
NBR member for customs audit, modernisation and international trade Abdul Mannan Shikder said that they will introduce modules of BNSW or NSW like e-payment, panel provision, advance ruling, appeal procedure and risk management under the trade facilitation agreement.
Besides, the NBR also updated their system that interlinked with the world automated system for customs data and also adopted strategies to facilitate the customs offices across the country, he said.
Regarding the customs process crisis faced by the traders, especially ready-made garment manufacturers, he said, ‘RMG manufacturers are enjoying duty-free import facilities on listed items but due to the increasing buyers’ demands they have to import many items that are out of the list and so are facing difficulties to get customs clearances.’
He said, ‘The revenue authority is always updating the products’ lists based on the importers’ demand but due to paperwork-based manual process it’s a time consuming issue.’
The introduction of applications such as the NSW will save time by eliminating the lengthy process of paperwork and also ensure transparency at the border trade of the country.
At the first stage of the implementation of the NSW system, traders can pay their customs related duties through an online transaction system and also resolve advance ruling related issues including other bond related issues by using the system, he said.
Besides enhancing the capacity of the customs bond commissionerate offices of the NBR, he said, ‘we have divided the Dhaka customs bond commissionerate into two divisions’ offices recently for providing bond licences and others related services to the traders, he said.
Traders can also obtain and update their import registration certificate and export registration certificate using the system, he said.
According to the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement that was submitted by Bangladesh in September 2016, the system will feature a total of 37 applications aimed at facilitating the traders and fully implementing the concept of paperless customs process, he said.
Once the NSW system is implemented, it will enhance trade operations by eliminating paperwork and reducing time through maintaining up-to-date information, he added.
The NSW project was launched in 2019 to expedite export and import trade, transit goods’ movement and check duty evasion.
NSW system, a joint venture project collaborating with several authorities including the World Bank, is scheduled to be fully completed by 2024 but the implementation of the project also depends on the capacity of all of the relevant authorities, he said.
In August 2018, the NBR signed a memorandum of understanding with 38 departments and entities to implement NSW.
NBR officials said the NSW system would also be interlinked with customs of NBR, Bangladesh Bank, Office of the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms, banks and other service-providing agencies.
Of the total project cost, the World Bank would provide the major part amounting to Tk 5.29 billion while Tk 561 million will be spent from the government’s coffers.
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