NBR, UNCTAD sign deal to connect 12 customs houses
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Doulot Akter Mala
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has signed a deal with the UNCTAD to establish interconnectivity among the country's 12 major customs houses for sharing data to check under-invoicing and duty evasion.
Under the agreement an 18-month-long project will be launched from March to implement 'ASYCUDA world', a computerised customs management system developed by the UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development).
ASYCUDA covers most foreign trade procedures, and handles manifests and customs declarations as well as accounting, transit and suspense procedures.
NBR chairman Dr Nasiruddin Ahmed and UNCTAD deputy secretary general Petku Draganov signed the agreement last month in Geneva.
The government has already sanctioned Tk 300 million as 'special project expenditure' to implement the project and set up an advanced and automated data sharing system for the customs department.
Of the amount, the UNCTAD will get Tk 75 million, and the rest will be spent for procurement and other purposes.
A senior NBR official said the existing system will be upgraded through the project to materialise single-window concept in the customs houses.
After implementation of the 'ASYCUDA world' project, importers can submit bill of entry through online, and obtain services from a single point.
He said the NBR will form two committees to implement the project. One will be steering committee and the other will be monitoring committee to make the project effective.
Officials said 12 major customs houses, including Chittagong, Mongla, Benapole, Hili, Sona Masjid and Bhomra, will come under the inter-connectivity project.
A total of 90 countries across the world are using the system for simplifying taxation system.
Bangladesh adopted ASYCUDA system for the customs department from 1999. Later it was updated to ASYCUDA++, and now it will be updated to ASYCUDA world.
ASYCUDA generates trade data that can be used for statistical economic analysis. The system takes into account the international codes and standards, developed by the ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation), the WCO (World Customs Organisation) and the United Nations.
ASYCUDA can be configured to suit the characteristics of individual customs regimes and national tariff legislation. It provides electronic data interchange (EDI) among traders and customs houses using EDIFACT (electronic data interchange for administration, commerce and transport) rules.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has signed a deal with the UNCTAD to establish interconnectivity among the country's 12 major customs houses for sharing data to check under-invoicing and duty evasion.
Under the agreement an 18-month-long project will be launched from March to implement 'ASYCUDA world', a computerised customs management system developed by the UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development).
ASYCUDA covers most foreign trade procedures, and handles manifests and customs declarations as well as accounting, transit and suspense procedures.
NBR chairman Dr Nasiruddin Ahmed and UNCTAD deputy secretary general Petku Draganov signed the agreement last month in Geneva.
The government has already sanctioned Tk 300 million as 'special project expenditure' to implement the project and set up an advanced and automated data sharing system for the customs department.
Of the amount, the UNCTAD will get Tk 75 million, and the rest will be spent for procurement and other purposes.
A senior NBR official said the existing system will be upgraded through the project to materialise single-window concept in the customs houses.
After implementation of the 'ASYCUDA world' project, importers can submit bill of entry through online, and obtain services from a single point.
He said the NBR will form two committees to implement the project. One will be steering committee and the other will be monitoring committee to make the project effective.
Officials said 12 major customs houses, including Chittagong, Mongla, Benapole, Hili, Sona Masjid and Bhomra, will come under the inter-connectivity project.
A total of 90 countries across the world are using the system for simplifying taxation system.
Bangladesh adopted ASYCUDA system for the customs department from 1999. Later it was updated to ASYCUDA++, and now it will be updated to ASYCUDA world.
ASYCUDA generates trade data that can be used for statistical economic analysis. The system takes into account the international codes and standards, developed by the ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation), the WCO (World Customs Organisation) and the United Nations.
ASYCUDA can be configured to suit the characteristics of individual customs regimes and national tariff legislation. It provides electronic data interchange (EDI) among traders and customs houses using EDIFACT (electronic data interchange for administration, commerce and transport) rules.