The National Board of Revenue (NBR) in Bangladesh has simplified the licensing rules for the C&F agents even as, regarding the transfer of a customs agent license to an inheritor, the new requirements stipulate that applicants must hold a higher secondary certificate and successfully pass an oral eligibility test, claimed media reports while adding these provisions are detailed in the revised section 19 of the Customs Agent Licensing Rules for 2020.
Previously, the criteria for becoming a customs agent license inheritor demanded candidates possess a graduate certificate and pass a written examination, which was criticised by leaders of the Federation of Customs and Forwarding (C&F) Agents, who felt it was a violation of the fundamental rights.
Responding to these concerns, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) revised three sections of the Customs Agent Licensing Rules for 2020 even as this revision was formalised through a gazette notification released on 9th August.
The Federation of Bangladesh Customs Clearing and Forwarding Agents Association had been advocating for changes to certain rules within the Customs Agent Licensing Rules since their inception in December 2020. The NBR addressed these demands by amending sections 15, 19, and 23 of the rules.
In accordance with the newly revised section 23, customs authorities now possess the authority to permanently revoke licenses or impose penalties on customs agents involved in evading customs duties, either inadvertently or intentionally. The customs licensing authority, held by an additional commissioner or deputy commissioner at customs station offices, allows the accused customs agent a 15-day window to defend against allegations before any license cancellation or penalty imposition.
