Automation and modernisation of customs operations in Bangladesh, as part of following best practices in the international arena, has been much discussed over the past decade, but little progress has been made on the ground so far.
This has been claimed by media reports which added that in 2017, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) initiated a project titled ‘National Single Window’ in an effort to bring the activities of 39 agencies dealing with customs-related activities under one umbrella so as to enhance trade operations by eliminating paperwork and reducing time through maintaining up-to-date information even as the reports went on to further add the National Single Window project, which aimed at delivering a user-friendly electronic system that streamlines and automates procedures for international trade-related permits, licences, certificates and customs declarations, even if was initially slated for completion by 2019, three years into the expiry of the deadline, was yet to be completed.
Reports added, similarly automation of the customs bond system, which has been much discussed, but little has been implemented.
