WCO diagnostic mission to review Bangladesh Customs

Doulot Akter Mala | Published: April 06, 2011 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Doulot Akter Mala
The World Customs Organisation (WCO) is trying to help Bangladesh to strengthen the capacity of its Customs Department, by identifying its operational shortcomings. A high-powered diagnostic mission of the WCO is now visiting the country's major customs points to identify the areas, which could be improved with technical supports and funds from the development partners. The three-member mission arrived in the city Sunday, and will visit the customs houses until April 14. The mission is conducting the study under the 'WCO Columbus Programme Phase-1'. The team will submit a detailed report to the finance minister with their findings. Brian Collins from the UK revenue and customs department is leading the team, with Abdull Bin Sulong from the Malaysian customs, and Takashi Nakao of the WCO. "The team is now at Chittagong customs house to see its export and import section, meet clearing and forwarding agents and officials of the Chittagong Port Authority, and visit customs, excise and VAT academy," a senior customs official told the FE Tuesday. The team will visit the country's largest land-port at Benapole to identify the roadblocks relating to bilateral trade with the landlocked states of India. The diagnostic mission will meet the officials of the relevant ministries, including home, health, agriculture, commerce, civil aviation and tourism, shipping, communication and foreign affairs, he added. It will also hold talks with the representatives of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), clearing and forwarding association, and freight forwarding association. The customs official said the diagnostic mission will find out the areas, where the country needs fund support. The team will also trace the best practices in the area of customs administration. The Columbus programme is the largest and most comprehensive customs capacity building initiative. The aim of the programme is the total implementation of the SAFE framework of standards, and other WCO conventions and instruments. Bangladesh signed a letter of intent (LoI) in July 2010 during the visit of the WCO secretary general to implement SAFE (secured trade) framework of standards. Following the LoI, the WCO sent the expert team to conduct a need assessment survey through holding discussions with public and private sectors and analysing gaps and roadblocks on full implementation of the WCO standards and best practices, said the customs official. The expert team of the WCO has conducted such surveys in 148 countries across the world. The official said the expert team has already met NBR officials, and it has appreciated the introduction of Asycuda system in Chittagong Port to establish online connectivity.