The government has launched an initiative to simplify import registration by introducing a single Import Registration Certificate (IRC), replacing the existing requirement for separate industrial and commercial IRCs under the same Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).

Officials said the proposed reform aims to streamline import procedures, reduce compliance costs, and improve the ease of doing business for importers engaged in both manufacturing and commercial trading.

To examine the proposal, the Ministry of Commerce on July 14 formed a high-level committee headed by the Additional Secretary of its IIT Wing. The committee includes representatives from the Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports (CCI&E), the National Board of Revenue (Income Tax and Customs wings), Bangladesh Bank, the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), and other relevant agencies.

The committee has been asked to submit a comprehensive report within 15 working days outlining the feasibility, implementation framework, and execution strategy for issuing a unified IRC.

The initiative follows decisions taken at a meeting chaired by the Commerce Secretary on June 30.

Under the current system, businesses involved in both industrial production and commercial import activities must obtain separate IRCs despite operating under a single TIN. Officials and business leaders say this creates unnecessary administrative burdens, duplicate licensing requirements, and higher compliance costs.

According to commerce ministry officials, adopting a unified IRC would simplify the import licensing process, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and lower the overall cost of doing business in Bangladesh.

They noted that several regional economies, including India, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka, already operate single-window import-export registration systems, making Bangladesh’s proposed reform consistent with international best practices.

A senior government official said maintaining separate industrial and commercial IRCs under one TIN creates redundant procedures and increases compliance costs for businesses. The proposed unified system, he said, would eliminate duplicate licensing, modernize the import registration framework, and strengthen trade facilitation efforts.

The Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports currently issues IRCs through its fully digital Online Licensing Module (OLM), replacing the previous paper-based system. The proposed reform would build on this digital platform by consolidating the registration process into a single certificate.