National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan said on Sunday that the country’s revenue authority is prioritising trade facilitation, faster cargo clearance and greater transparency through wide-ranging customs reforms.
Besides, the customs reforms are aimed at simplifying procedures for compliant taxpayers, he told journalists at a meet-the-press programme ahead of International Customs Day 2026 at the NBR’s Agargaon office.
Khan informed that other than easing customs procedures, they plan on taking strict action against those involved in activities causing revenue leakage, such as misdeclaration and under-invoicing of imported goods.
Bangladesh will observe International Customs Day 2026 on Monday, 26 January, focusing on evolving role of customs in safeguarding society amid changing global trade dynamics.
Rahman said a major reform drive is underway to bring discipline to customs valuation, with assessments to be conducted primarily on invoice value and supported by a risk-based physical examination system that is nearing completion.
“If we can operationalise the software, the authority will identify high-risk consignments for verification, while low-risk goods will not require physical inspection,” the NBR chief said.
He also said the NBR is placing greater emphasis on post-clearance audits to ensure quicker release of goods, while steps are being taken to streamline testing procedures involving multiple government agencies that often cause delays.
Under the new system, laboratory samples will be collected seven days a week, and importers will be allowed to use both government and recognised domestic or foreign laboratories for testing.
Rahman said compliant taxpayers will benefit from faster clearance, while Authorised Economic Operators will receive additional facilities, including green channel clearance and post-clearance audits, adding that licences will be issued to three more operators on Monday.
He said renewed efforts are under way to strengthen pre-arrival customs processing, noting that declarations can be submitted before goods arrive to save time, and that the existing system is not being fully utilised.
The NBR is also working to integrate the ASYCUDA system with port automation platforms to further speed cargo clearance.
Rahman said the National Single Window has issued about 900,000 certificates, licences and permits, with more than 80 per cent processed within one hour of submission.
He said customs bond automation has been fully implemented since January, cutting paperwork and congestion at bond commissionerates, with bond-related activities now completed remotely.
The NBR is working with Bangladesh Bank to integrate commercial invoice data with customs and foreign exchange systems to reduce valuation disputes and improve monitoring of under- and over-invoicing, while international market price catalogues are being procured to detect irregularities.
