In a move to automate and modernise customs and business procedures following international best practices, the Customs Act 2015 is expected to be placed for Parliamentary passage in the next budget session in May.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith made the disclosure at a seminar on digital customs and progressive engagement at the Officers Club in Dhaka yesterday.
The new law, which will replace the Customs Act 1969, will provide the National Board of Revenue with a broad legal basis for implementation of an electronic customs administration under which all customs and export-import procedures will be done electronically.
NBR organised the seminar on the occasion of International Customs Day 2016 to promote digitalisation of all customs procedures for trade facilitation.
A total of 179 member countries of World Customs Organisation, including Bangladesh, observed the day yesterday to mark the first official conference of the Customs Co-operation Council.
Customs Co-operation Council is former name of the WCO.
Finance minister urged the business leaders to submit amended proposals and recommendations early so that the NBR could address those before the act was placed in the Parliament. This will help consider such proposals, if any, in the act before it gets the Parliamentary approval.
The minister also requested the businesses to adopt Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism for settling disputes related to customs, duties and other taxes with the NBR out of the court. He also asked the businesses to submit their budget related proposals by next month to help NBR work on next budget preparation.
NBR officials said automation and introduction of some international best practices were the main features of the new act which would facilitate the businesses for submission of electronic declarations for imports and exports, advance cargo declarations for imports and introduction of green channel for honest traders etc.
They said there were also provisions of advance ruling which would help traders to get advance decisions of the customs on various issues related to valuation and classification of products. Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed asked the revenue authorities to bring the millionaires under the tax net.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Abdul Matlub Ahmad demanded setting up of pre-import assessment system to avoid dispute between traders and customs officials on customs valuation issues.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance Ministry Abdur Razzak asked the customs officials to make concrete efforts in coordination with other intelligence agencies to thwart gold smuggling through Bangladesh.
“There should not be any complacency after seizing a huge amount of smuggled gold. You may have seized 600 kg gold in last 2-3 years but another 6,000 kg may remain undiscovered,” Abdur Razzak said.
Prime minister’s economic affairs adviser Mashiur Rahman, NBR chairman Md Nojibur Rahman, NBR senior member (customs policy) Farid Uddin, and Dhaka Customs House Commissioner Md Lutfor Rahman also spoke.
A total of 20 persons including customs officials and business leaders were awarded.
The business leaders who received the award include FBCCI Vice President Mahbubul Alam, Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Siddikur Rahman, FBCCI directors Sheikh Fazle Fahim and Hasina Newaz, and former Senior Vice President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Haider Ahmed khan.
