Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has called for faster and simplified customs bond services to maintain the competitiveness of the country’s garment industry.
BGMEA said in a statement that the request was made to the Customs Bond Commissionerate, Dhaka South, during a meeting on Monday.
BGMEA Director Faisal Samad, leading a delegation including Director Sumaiya Islam and Director Kazi Mizanur Rahman, met Customs Bond Commissioner Mohammed Hasmat Ali at his office.
The delegation handed over a letter signed by BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan, urging the simplification of customs procedures and provision of policy support for garment exporters.
The BGMEA team sought measures to streamline annual audit processes for exporters, expedite resolution of UD-exempt back-to-back LCs included through the June 30, 2022 amendments, maintain bond registrar records via CBMS software, and avoid imposing cutting inspections without valid reasons. They also requested easing HSC code inclusion in bond licenses.
On policy matters, the BGMEA delegation urged smoother FOC-based raw material imports, avoiding VAT harassment on services rendered by non-bonded firms to bonded exporters, and simplifying subcontracting and direct supply from bonded to non-bonded exporters.
The delegation also recommended urgently reconstituting a joint working committee with all stakeholders, including customs houses, bond commissionerates, National Board of Revenue, and customs intelligence, to address short- and long-term industry issues.
Customs Bond Commissioner Mohammed Hasmat Ali assured that steps have already been taken to make customs services faster and simpler. He said the commissionerate will continue working closely with BGMEA to resolve issues promptly and support exporters in achieving their shipment targets. Senior officials of the Dhaka South commissionerate were present at the meeting.
