Trying to bring transparency and accountability in Bangladesh's external trade, government's revenue authority is setting Export General Manifest (EGM) module as decoy in 17 private inland container depots (ICDs) for detecting actual export-import data.
Officials said the EGM module would function under ASYCUDA World System in automatic monitoring of trade operations.
Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) World System is defined as an integrated customs-management system for international trade and transport operations in an automated environment.
Officials said already the Bangladesh Customs has implemented the EGM module in customs houses in Chittagong, ICD Kamalapur, Pangaon ICD, Mongla, SAPL Inland Water Terminal, and the Esack Brothers Industries Ltd (container yard).
Starting from September the implementation of EGM module is expected to be completed by mid-November.
Bangladesh customs has already trained shipping agents, freight forwarders, and clearing and forwarding agents on EGM module as part of efforts for its implementation.
When implemented in all the gateways, the EGM module will help ensure actual tally of export cargoes, prevent money laundering through export trade, and reliable export statistics will be available, said a recent NBR notification.
Officials say every year millions of dollars are siphoned out of the country by various illegal means, particularly by misinvoicing in export-import trade.
They said mismatch in data collected from different government agencies is found more often than not. Especially, differences always remain between export data collected by the Export Promotion Bureau on pre-shipment basis and compiled by the central bank on post-shipment basis.
"We are very hopeful that the EGM module will help to get real export data and prevent anomalies," said one customs official in Dhaka.
Secretary of Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA) Ruhul Amin Sikder told the
FE Friday that, presently, the freight forwarders are submitting EGM manually.
Once implemented in all the off docks, the EGMs will be submitted online through ASYCUDA World System, he said about the modus operandi.
Due to manual system, the freight forwarders submit EGM even a week after a vessel leaves the port jetties, but online systems will facilitate prompt submission, he said.
"As a result, the customs house will be able to check immediately what kinds of goods, how much in volume and prices are exported by a ship and whether any duty is applicable," said Mr Sikder.
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