B Mirror Report : National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan on Sunday said the revenue authority is prioritising trade facilitation, faster cargo clearance and enhanced transparency through comprehensive customs reforms.

Speaking at a meet-the-press programme at the NBR headquarters ahead of International Customs Day 2026, the chairman said the core objective of the reforms is to simplify customs procedures for compliant taxpayers while taking strict action against misdeclaration, under-invoicing and other forms of revenue leakage.

Bangladesh Customs will observe International Customs Day 2026 on Monday, highlighting its evolving role in protecting society amid rapidly changing global trade dynamics. The theme for this year, set by the World Customs Organization (WCO), is “Customs protecting society through vigilance and commitment.”

Rahman said a major reform initiative is underway to bring discipline to customs valuation, with assessments increasingly based on invoice value. A risk-based physical examination system is nearing completion to identify high-risk consignments for inspection, allowing low-risk cargo to be cleared without physical checks.

“If the software is fully operational, only high-risk consignments will be examined, while compliant shipments will be released quickly,” he said.

The NBR chairman said greater emphasis is being placed on post-clearance audits to ensure faster release of goods from ports. He acknowledged that testing requirements involving multiple government agencies often cause delays and said steps are being taken to streamline the process.

Under the revised system, laboratory samples will be collected seven days a week, and importers will be allowed to conduct tests at both government and recognised local or foreign laboratories.

Compliant taxpayers will enjoy faster clearance facilities, while Authorised Economic Operators (AEOs) will receive additional benefits, including green channel clearance and post-clearance audits. Rahman said NBR will issue licences to three more AEOs on Monday, either as new entrants or through upgraded compliance levels.

The chairman also highlighted renewed efforts to strengthen pre-arrival processing, noting that declarations are often submitted after goods arrive at ports despite the availability of advance filing facilities.

NBR is also working to integrate its ASYCUDA system with port automation platforms to further speed up cargo clearance. He said the National Single Window (NSW) system has already issued around 900,000 certificates, licences and permits, with more than 80 per cent processed within one hour.

Customs bond automation has been fully implemented since January, significantly reducing paperwork and congestion at bond commissionerates. Bond-related activities can now be completed remotely, he added.

Rahman said NBR is coordinating with Bangladesh Bank to integrate commercial invoice data with customs and foreign exchange systems, which is expected to reduce valuation disputes and improve monitoring of under- and over-invoicing. International market price catalogues are also being procured to ensure accurate assessment of import prices.

On revenue trends, the chairman said Bangladesh is gradually reducing its reliance on import duties, with income tax and VAT contributing an increasing share of total revenue.

“Our goal is to strengthen income tax and VAT collection to support redistribution and sustainable development,” he said, adding that customs administration plays a vital role in preventing money laundering and protecting the country from harmful imports.

Responding to questions, Rahman said import data is not confidential and will be published on the NBR website after filtering to protect taxpayer identities. He also said VAT refunds have started under the automated system, while work is underway to introduce a fully automated income tax refund mechanism to minimise direct contact between taxpayers and officials.

Regarding tariff policy, he said NBR has reduced duties on essential commodities such as fruits, dates, edible oil, onions and rice, prioritising public interest over revenue considerations.

Rahman said NBR is working closely with stakeholders to identify challenges and improve the system, emphasising that transparency and efficiency remain central to ongoing reforms.

He noted that the role of customs administrations has expanded significantly with changes in the global economic order, encompassing trade facilitation, national security, environmental protection, intellectual property rights enforcement and the prevention of smuggling and money laundering.

As a frontline border agency, Bangladesh Customs continues to operate round the clock at seaports, land ports and airports to facilitate legitimate trade and prevent trafficking of drugs, arms, illegal gold, unsafe food and medicines.

Bangladesh Customs has strengthened cooperation with domestic and international agencies, including the police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), intelligence agencies, Bangladesh Bank and port authorities, as well as international frameworks such as the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, WCO Revised Kyoto Convention and bilateral arrangements with regional partners.

In fiscal year 2024–25, customs contributed 27 per cent of total NBR revenue. Through modernisation, digitalisation and automation, including ASYCUDA World, Bangladesh Single Window, automated risk management and post-clearance audits, around 90 per cent of consignments are now cleared within a day, according to the Time Release Study.

NBR said Bangladesh Customs remains committed to protecting society while supporting national and global socio-economic security through vigilance, professionalism and sustained cooperation.