Baggage rule for NRBs to be simplified
Sunday, 12 October 2008
Doulot Akter Mala
The government has taken a move to offer facilities to the Non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) through implementation of the 'special citizen facility policy-2008'.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR), ministries of expatriates' welfare and overseas employment, home, housing and public works, education, land and law have taken integrated effort in this regard.
The ministries recently held an inter-ministerial meeting to frame work-plan for implementation of the policy, which was approved earlier by the advisory council.
The meeting, chaired by secretary for ministry of expatriates welfare and overseas employment Abdul Matin Chowdhury, has decided to take effective measures for implementation of the policy by October.
On the part of revenue board, it has moved for simplifying the baggage rule for the NRBs who will come back to the country after completion of their jobs abroad.
Talking to the FE on Saturday, NBR chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid said: "The NRBs, who are returning to the country after completion of their job terms from mainly Middle-East and Malaysia, will be given higher ceiling for duty-free import under baggage rule."
The NBR chief made it clear that the NRBs will have to follow some conditions to enjoy the additional facility. The NRBs will have to show papers relating remittance through proper banking channel.
The NRBs might be allowed to bring product worth Tk 20,000 beyond the entitlement under baggage rule.
The revenue board has observed the arrival of NRBs over the last three months to identify the problems relating to customs clearance at the airport.
"We are actively considering offering facility to the remittance earners. The NRBs remittance is 100 per cent value addition to our national economy," the NBR chief said.
The NBR has given two-months (September-October) to the customs department at the airport for giving recommendations on how the customs procedures and baggage rules could be simplified, he said.
Under the policy implementation measures, the home ministry has formed a task force, headed by its joint secretary, to impart training on ensuring 'expatriates friendly' environment at the airport. The ministry is now giving training to 200 officials for this purpose. The home ministry will also ask the passport department to give priority to renewal of NRB passports, a meeting source said.
The home ministry will also ensure social security and protection of wealth of the family members of NRBs, he said.
Sources in the education ministry said it would issue a directive for keeping 2.0 per cent quota for the children of NRBs in educational institutions.
Housing and Public works ministry has planned to establish a 'complaint desk' in the airport for NRBs while land and law ministry will give priority to the expatriates on land registration procedures and mutation, the meeting source said.
The Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) will give two identification cards to the selected NRBs for the special citizen --one for the NRB and another for his/her nominee, he said.
Officials said the government has taken the steps and implement them in a short period to honour the non-resident Bangladeshis. However, the NRBs sent US$ 6.84 billion during January-September period in the current year.
The government has taken a move to offer facilities to the Non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) through implementation of the 'special citizen facility policy-2008'.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR), ministries of expatriates' welfare and overseas employment, home, housing and public works, education, land and law have taken integrated effort in this regard.
The ministries recently held an inter-ministerial meeting to frame work-plan for implementation of the policy, which was approved earlier by the advisory council.
The meeting, chaired by secretary for ministry of expatriates welfare and overseas employment Abdul Matin Chowdhury, has decided to take effective measures for implementation of the policy by October.
On the part of revenue board, it has moved for simplifying the baggage rule for the NRBs who will come back to the country after completion of their jobs abroad.
Talking to the FE on Saturday, NBR chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid said: "The NRBs, who are returning to the country after completion of their job terms from mainly Middle-East and Malaysia, will be given higher ceiling for duty-free import under baggage rule."
The NBR chief made it clear that the NRBs will have to follow some conditions to enjoy the additional facility. The NRBs will have to show papers relating remittance through proper banking channel.
The NRBs might be allowed to bring product worth Tk 20,000 beyond the entitlement under baggage rule.
The revenue board has observed the arrival of NRBs over the last three months to identify the problems relating to customs clearance at the airport.
"We are actively considering offering facility to the remittance earners. The NRBs remittance is 100 per cent value addition to our national economy," the NBR chief said.
The NBR has given two-months (September-October) to the customs department at the airport for giving recommendations on how the customs procedures and baggage rules could be simplified, he said.
Under the policy implementation measures, the home ministry has formed a task force, headed by its joint secretary, to impart training on ensuring 'expatriates friendly' environment at the airport. The ministry is now giving training to 200 officials for this purpose. The home ministry will also ask the passport department to give priority to renewal of NRB passports, a meeting source said.
The home ministry will also ensure social security and protection of wealth of the family members of NRBs, he said.
Sources in the education ministry said it would issue a directive for keeping 2.0 per cent quota for the children of NRBs in educational institutions.
Housing and Public works ministry has planned to establish a 'complaint desk' in the airport for NRBs while land and law ministry will give priority to the expatriates on land registration procedures and mutation, the meeting source said.
The Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) will give two identification cards to the selected NRBs for the special citizen --one for the NRB and another for his/her nominee, he said.
Officials said the government has taken the steps and implement them in a short period to honour the non-resident Bangladeshis. However, the NRBs sent US$ 6.84 billion during January-September period in the current year.